My name is Gary L. Dick. I am retired Law Enforcement Officer from the Clearlake Police Department. I was a Charter member of CPD, employed there from September 1981 until my retirement in July 2004.
My good friend, associate Charter member, co-worker and boss, Robert Shelton (Bob) Chalk, worked with me that entire 23 years. Bob and I came up through the ranks of the Clearlake Police Department.
We started off as Patrol Officers in September 1981. Bob worked the Graveyard (2400 -0800 hrs.) shift and I worked the Swing shift (1600-2400 hrs.). We both promoted quickly throughout our years together. I was promoted to “Detective” In early 1982 and Bob was promoted to “Sergeant” in early 1983, I believe.
I tried to compete for the Sergeant position against Bob but my attempt was futile. Bob was much better suited for that position, and a tough man to compete against. I continued my Detective/Investigation position until I was promoted in early 1984 to “Sergeant”.
Both Bob and I were now supervisors, handling the Patrol division, along with another Sergeant.
After a few months there was a position for Lieutenant, due to one of our Lieutenant’s (Lt. George Likos) retiring from law enforcement. Our then Chief, Ray Skerry, decided to promote Bob to Lieutenant with no testing procedure. Even though I protested to the Chief it was decided that Bob was the best person for the promotion.
I later realized this was another good decision by my superiors, though at that time I disagreed.
I recall a time when Chief Skerry said “Someday Bob Chalk will be doing the job of Chief of Police”. Chief Skerry was very insightful in his knowledge of the intelligence of Bob Chalk. I believe Chief Skerry feared Bob Chalk’s Management abilities just a little.
The next few years changed many things. The City of Clearlake had bad budget problems, many people were laid off from employment and things started on a downward slide, for many reasons. CPD got a new Chief of Police, Roger Scuitto, after Ray Skerry left.
Bob Chalk was now the “Right Hand Man” of the Chief, Roger Sciutto. That means Bob was probably next in line to bring the CPD forward into the future. A few years later Bob did just that!
In the early 1990s Bob Chalk took over as the C.O.P. for the City of Clearlake. In my opinion, this is the best decision the City of Clearlake City Council ever made. I became Bob’s second in command and Ron Larsen (deceased) was our Top Sergeant, in charge of Investigations, and a lot of other stuff.
During Bob Chalk’s span as Chief of Police I learned that it is possible to be near perfect. Bob was just that, near perfect.
Bob Chalk once saved me from losing my career. He cared for all his employees, all the time. Bob Chalk believed that it is absolutely necessary to help all mankind.
As Chief of Police Bob Chalk always believed that the public deserves to have the absolute best Police protection possible. Bob Chalk never once would not take a phone call if he was in a position to answer the phone. Not even during important staff meetings.
I could go on all day about my mentor, Bob Chalk. People that really knew Bob Chalk loved him, even if they disagreed with his thinking.
Bob Chalk was a great Grandson, Son, Stepfather, Husband, Brother, Co-worker, Nemesis, Friend and Boss that anyone could ever hope for. God now has a very good helper in heaven.
Robert Shelton Chalk…… March 5, 1954 through September 27, 2017.
Gary L. Dick is a retired officer of the Clearlake Police Department
