Falls Creek Police Dept.

[klsm54]

Hard to believe today, in this age of distressed small towns, but Falls Creek had, for many years, a solid police force.

The farthest back that I remember, the Chief was a guy named Rasavage, or something like that. My most vivid memories of him are that he spent a lot of time at the Eagles... ;D

I think that the next chief was Gene Gundrum, in his first tour of duty.

After that it was Butch Vogus, then Gene Gundrum back for round two.

And we didn't just have a chief, we had other patrolmen over the years. Some that I can recall were Fred Reed, Laird Snyder, Jack Dillman & Keith Kaschalk.

It wasn't easy being in law enforcement in a small town, I'm sure. Not when I was roaming the streets anyway... ;D They must have done a good job, most of us got through our youth in pretty good shape. They didn't have to lock us up, but still managed to keep us from doing too much damage to the town and it's residents..... ;D ;D

[pensrock]

My dad was on the force part time, also Tom Weis. Others?

[shadylady]

There was an old timer who used to walk up and down the streets, but can't remember his name. Big guy, sort of balding and in his 50's maybe early 60's. Extremely nice. Maybe it was Rasavage, cause I don't remember him.

[brucie2000]

The only time I had issues with the police was when Gene Gundrum busted me and Chicken Ross for drag racing on the quarter mile by the brick yard, and the time Ed Fordoski and I were throwning stones at the old school, and the time we had beer cans under................well just forget it!!!!!!!

[jimnlin]

Wasn't it amazing what we got away with when we were kids ! Most of us would have ended up doing time these days! The police in Falls Creek always understood it was a small town and acted more like surrogate parents than law enforcement officers. More than once my brothers (never me - I never did anything wrong , but then again I couldn't run well and knew I would get caught) would show up at the door with Gene Gundrum or Laird Snyder after having done something stupid or gotten in a fight. Funny to think how many times Keith was "escorted" home and ended up being a cop in the same department! Sgt. Kaschalk is now "escorting" the youth of Erie to prison mostly after they screw up!

[bucket]

Ernie Snyder was the cop in Falls Creek in the 50's. He served for several years. After Ernie there were one or two other guys before "Rat-Savage" became the town cop. He was a retired state cop. Word has it that he was forced to retire because of his drinking. He did spend most of his time at the Eagles getting a snoot full. Me and a few of the other guys in town use to bug the s--t out of him. He drove an old 54' Buick. You could tell at night that he was coming through town..always drove with his high beams on. We use to bang on the bank windows to set off the alarm so he would have to climb down off the bar stool and respond. He shot at us several times, but luck was on our side. His eyes were soooo blood shot his aim was off. The curfew was at 10pm. The siren would sound at 9:45pm and then again at 10pm. That gave you 15 minutes to get home. You could walk backwards from any spot in Falls Creek and be home in that amount of time. He would stop you and ask, "how old are you?" You would tell him and he would say, "Get the hell home" What ever direction his car was headed we would run the other way. Bucket from Calif.

[rockireindeer]

I was wondering if anyone knew any information on Charles Edward Guthrie. He committed suicide by walking in front of a train 10/22/1981 I believe somewhere in Falls Creek or where the train ran in Sandy Township. Wondering if anyone knew any officers involved in the investigation that would know anything about it.

[scottkaefer]

I lived right down from the Gundrums. Me and my brothers use to go "raid gardens". I was sitting on the steps one day and Gene pulled up and ask if I knew who was raiding gardens, I said no Gene I don't, he said well scotty I seen vegetables leading up to your house ( I was only about 8 at the time)...I started crying and confessed.