Veteran Youngstown officer Ruse retiring after 33 years

YOUNGSTOWN

Ken Ruse followed his father onto the Youngstown Police Department and Friday marked his last day after 33 years on the job.

Ruse, a patrolman, said it is time to retire as he was feted by his colleagues with a going away party in the department’s roll call room.

He said it won’t really hit him until Sunday, because he will not have to go to bed early to get up early the next day. Sunday would’ve been the 33rd anniversary of his first day on the job on Oct. 5, 1981.

His father Don Ruse was a city patrolman for almost 30 years and retired shortly before his son started. Ruse said seeing his dad go to work every day heavily influenced him to become a policeman.

“I couldn’t work inside,” Ruse said. “I had to work outside.”

Ruse patrolled every beat in the city and also worked narcotics for eight years. He finished up his career by patrolling a day-turn beat on the East Side. He said there is not one call that stands out in particular, but he did say the biggest changes are in technology and the people he has dealt with.

Read more about this veteran officer in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.