Douglas Deane

Retiring Wayland auxiliary police officer Douglas Deane talks about his career: Deane retires after 28 years on the force
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Deane, 51, remembered answering an assistance call from some other Wayland officers who were having a hard time arresting a particularly rowdy suspect.

As Deane got close, the suspect kicked him, he said.Deane said to the attacker, "I don't even know you!"

Deane laughed as he remembered the reply from another officer, "What, do you need to be formally introduced?"

"We all started laughing," Deane recalled.

The laughter was interrupted, though, when the suspect got the better of Deane and the two struggled across the ground -- and into a septic tank.

They arrested the suspect, but the officer in charge of the station that day was none too pleased to see the condition of one of his officers.

Despite his less-than-spotless uniform, Deane was confident."But we arrested the guy, didn't we?"Deane said to the officer.

After experiences like that, said Deane, he became trained as a self-defense instructor for the auxiliary officers -- just to know how to handle uncooperative suspects in the future.

Deane, who retired from the force last November, began a career in law enforcement after graduating from high school in 1971.That fall, he entered the Army and served with the First Armored Division as a military police officer stationed at the Czechoslovakian border.

After three years of that experience, Deane left Europe for Waltham's Brandeis University as a campus police officer.He found he wanted the experience of helping his hometown, so he joined the Wayland Police Department as an auxiliary officer in 1975.

"This town is lucky to have a superbly trained force," he said."It's an invaluable tool Chief Irving has at his disposal."

As an auxiliary police officer, Deane has had a hand in many of the region's famous police events and emergencies.
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"You feel responsible...The police are there to protect those people," said Deane.
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In the 28 years since -- and after 9-11 -- Deane has seen a shift in that attitude.Where some people once sneered and jeered at police marching in a town parade, Deane said they now stand up in the presence of marching officers.
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Deane retires after 28 years on the force

As an auxiliary police officer, Deane has had a hand in many of the region's famous police events and emergencies.