Ray Bledsoe This is Me

 View all 46 references Web References

1. 1. News Tribune

   www.newstribune.com/articles/2 - [Cached]

   Published on: 10/14/2004   Last Visited: 10/15/2004

   Jefferson City Police Department Capt. Ray Bledsoe retires after 30 years on force. (News Tribune/Stephen Brooks photo)
   ...
   Ray Bledsoe didn't know what to do. He was handcuffed to a jungle gym at the First Christian Church's preschool and didn't have a key to free himself.
   
   He eventually was liberated, but upon returning to the department, was called in to see Chief Lawrence Patton, who barely could contain his laughter.
   
   "He said, 'Son, I have an extra key here and I suggest you carry one,'" Bledsoe recalled.
   
   "I didn't live that down for a long time."
   
   That incident -- which began with Bledsoe showing his cuffs to youngsters, one of whom slipped them over his wrist and a portion of the jungle gym -- is one of many from his 30-year career with the Jefferson City Police Department, which officially ends today.
   
   A retirement celebration Thursday morning at the department honored Bledsoe, who worked his first shift at midnight on Oct. 1, 1974.
   
   During his tenure, Bledsoe has served as a regular patrol and traffic officer, as the community-relations officer and in his current role, commander of the support services (records and telecommunications) division.
   
   Bledsoe, 58, grew up in Jefferson City and was involved in the retail business for about 10 years before he joined the department.
   
   In the spring of 1974, he was working at Montgomery Ward when he was approached by Patton.
   
   Bledsoe, who grew up in Jefferson City, knew Patton and other officers from his youth, when he played in the Police Athletic League.
   
   Patton convinced Bledsoe to take the officer's test and later to accept a position with the department.
   ...
   "Thank God I had some money in savings, or (he and wife Linda) couldn't have made it," Bledsoe said.
   
   Since that time, Bledsoe said, the department has benefited from changes in technology and officer training, and due to the increasing number of women in law enforcement.
   
   But one thing that's never changed is his love for the city, the department and his co-workers.
   
   "I'm very possessive of the department and the city. It's my city," he said.
   
   "This department, the people within it, have been my second home, my second family. It's going to be hard for me to walk out of here."
   
   Looking back on his career, Bledsoe is proud that he helped start several programs that continue today, including Shop With A Cop and Sober Chauffeur.
   
   He's also proud to have played a key role in updating the department's 911 center, which he said contains, "some of the best equipment in the state."
   
   "Part of me went into that," he added.
   
   But Bledsoe feels he had the most impact on people when he served as community-relations officer, a job that allowed him to interact with a variety of charitable and civic groups and school children.
   
   About one year ago, a man came to the department with his young son in tow. That man said he had been a member of the Safety Club at the Jefferson City High School and that he'd always held Bledsoe in high esteem.
   
   "He said, 'This is my son. I just wanted him to meet you,'" Bledsoe said. "I went home and told Linda, 'You know, sometimes, I don't think I accomplish a thing.'
   
   "But that incident made my whole career worth it."
   
   Bledsoe said he'll likely take it easy the rest of this year -- he had knee-replacement surgery in late June -- before trying to find a new job early in 2005.
   
   He's got no plans to turn into a couch potato. "I've got to stay busy and active," Bledsoe laughed.

2. 2. CentreDaily.com - Your State College Everything Guide

   www.centredaily.com/mld/centre - [Cached]

   Published on: 10/24/2003   Last Visited: 10/24/2003

   "The guys had plenty of time to plan, and it looks like from what I have been given it was very well planned," said Capt. Ray Bledsoe, a spokesman for the Jefferson City Police Department.

3. 3. City Council Minutes - September 18, 2006

   cityclerk.jeffcity.net/mlm/min - [Cached]

   Published on: 9/18/2006   Last Visited: 12/10/2007

   Ray Bledsoe