Page [unnumbered] Message Page 2 of 7 Search C Recent News C Archives C Web for Welcome stephen My Classifieds | My AccountI Sign Out I Jobs Q Cars Q Real Estate Q Apartments Q Local Shopping * Find Sales & Deals * Shop Local Stores S All Classifieds SPersonals News Nation & World Local & Community * St. Paul Metro * Dakota County * North Suburbs * Washington County * Minnesota * Wisconsin * Schools Columnists Opinion Politics Business Sports Life & Home Entertainment Outdoors & Leisure Travel Obituaries ONLINE EXTRAS Watchdog Archives Maps & Back to Home > News > Wednesday, Feb 23, 2005 Local email this 0 print this reprint or license this Posted on Tue, May. 27, 2003 WHITE BEAR LAKE: Police captain makes ~2clasymafes-com I graduated in: S............................... (98$) 1.960-69 1970-79 1:9804 9 1......990-99 (1 054) SCommerce 2. (39 ) 2000-present pm u. c START t (514) CT D AL CAK A A CAJ CO CT DE DC FL GA 1 D IL INJ 1A KS KY LA ME MD MA! M MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJNM NYI NC NDi OH OK OR PAj RI SC SDT TN X UT I VT VA WAWVI WYJ classmates corn.,.I.:. His given name is Horace William Schmahl Jr. In print, he prefers H.W. Schmahl Jr. But call him J.R. 5/23/2007
Page [unnumbered] Message Page 3 of 7 Directions Newsletters Traffic Reports Weather Yellow Pages Discussion Boards Print Edition SITE SERVICES Help Feedback Advertise Subscriber Services NIE "Very few people know my first name," Schmahl said. "I don't care what they call me (J.R.) is what everybody calls me." The name is a carryover from Schmahl's days working in an undercover armed-robbe Fort Lauderdale. Now the public face of the White Bear Lake Police Department, this transplant has never forgotten the sunny, sandy shores where he learned the ABCs any of police work. "I had an absolute ball. If I could tumrn back the clock, I'd still be there," Schmahl said past, particularly of the 1970s when he was busting johns, drug dealers and gun-wield rabble-rousers. "When people go on vacation, they act differently. There's always son stupid going on." The 50-year-old admits that moving in 1997 to a state with winter, let alone Minnesol transition, but he has adapted. "It's something new to me," said Schmahl, administrative captain for the White Bear I don't mind the cold. But I'm not flying a car. I'm flying a desk." On a recent morning in his office, he met with a senior citizen interested in pitching it parking enforcement at the Matoska Park boat launch. The man asks about the schedt how often Schmahl would ask him to work on short notice. In his direct some mig gruff style, Schmahl responds: "Very frankly, if you can't make it, what am I goin Beat you over the head?" Throughout the morning, Schmahl refills his mug, which reads, "Safety doesn't take c breaks." He often stares at the Weather Channel, another vestige of his Florida days when the could change pretty quickly. Since his two teenagers still live in Florida, he likes to kt eye on his home state. In the background, a radio is set to a classical music station. When City Hall's tower bells sound on the hour, he admits that he wouldn't mind sticl Zeppelin in there sometime. As a child in the West Indies, Schmahl didn't know much about the work of his father Sr. Later, Schmahl learned that his dad, who emigrated to the United States from Genri 19, was a member of the Office of Strategic Services, a predecessor to the CIA, durin War II. When he was in junior high, the family, including two sisters and a brother, moved to Lauderdale. It was there that Schmahl learned to be a cop. Inspired by a local police officer who "1 eye on me," Schmahl recalled, he joined the Fort Lauderdale department in 1970. Sch later named his daughter after his mentor, "Charlie," or in her case, Charlene. In 10 years with Fort Lauderdale, he worked traffic, special assignment as an underco 5/23/2007
Page [unnumbered] Message Page 4 of 7 prostitute on the beach (he had long, blond locks back then) and for an undercover un specialized in convenience-store robberies. In 1980, he was asked to be among a pioneering group of police officers who started 1 St. Lucie Police Department. But after 16 years, Schmahl retired from Port St. Lucie and in 1997 came to White Bc he was ready to take on a "behind-the-scenes" role. Each day, he arrives to work at 4:1 work out and then begin chores ranging from managing the boat-launch patrol and of training to overseeing investigations, public information and support services. In White Bear, Schmahl has impressed colleagues with his knowledge of emergency management, innovative thinking and adaptability. "He has managed to make a lot of good changes in the police department, and often tl easy for an outsider to do," said White Bear Lake Fire Chief Tim Vadnais. Maplewood Police Chief Dave Thomalla said that Schmahl brought "professionalism advanced training background to the Ramsey County area." "He really thinks outside of the box when it comes to providing training for officers," Thomalla said. White Bear Police Chief Todd Miller agreed that Schmahl's experience with natural d including Florida hurricanes, and his commitment to officer training was particularly "I think he's got a very strong training background and that has really helped our orga Miller said. "He has the ability to get things done." And he has brought a bit of the Sunshine State in style and personality to Minnesota's lakes and legends." "You'll see him in a Hawaiian shirt once in a while," Miller said. "There is a definite I in there." Yep, and they still call him J.R. H.W. SCHMAHL JR. His age: 50 His job: Administrative captain for the White Bear Lake Police Department, where h, oversees training, public information, investigations and support services, including d records and police reserves. His education: Master of science degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; graduate of the FBI's National Academy. His background: Schmahl grew up in the West Indies and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He I 5/23/2007
Page [unnumbered] Message Page 5 of 7 career with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department in 1970. In 1980, he helped start tl St. Lucie Police Department. He joined the White Bear Lake Police Department in 19 His look: Still likes to wear Hawaiian shirts and other tropical garb. Also, still surfs. Marisa Agha, who covers north suburban Ramsey County, can be reached at [email protected] or (651) 228-2109. It's your ti.... <r It's your town. It's your paprc. L77email this Klprint this reprint oricen SRight-click here to NewsI Business Sports Entertainment I Living Shop Local I download pictures. To Classifieds( Jobs I Cars I Homes he...p protect...yur About TwinCities.com About the Real Cities Network I Terms of Use & Privacy Statement |About Knight RidderI Copyright