| History of the Oregon State Police |
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| 1940-1949 - Living Histories and Personal Profiles |
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John C. Williams
John C. Williams pictured in front of his house on Kurtle Street in West Salem. John said that the Salem office had two cycles when he came on in 1946; one Indian and one Harley. Bill Levinson was killed riding one when the clutch engaged while he was waiting for a train to pass at 12 and State Streets.
Jack Schneider
I was 10 this year 1944 and living in Milwaukie with my parents, 2 brothers and 3 sisters. I was second from the oldest. My dad was a custodian at the Catholic School in Milwaukie. He had gotten hurt working in the shipyards on Swan Island. My mom was a stay at home mom. I went to Central Catholic High School and graduated in 1952.
I worked for a time then joined the Marine Corps and was shipped to Korea for 21 months. My job was to bury the dead. When I got out of the military and came back, I went to work for Barnard Motors at 21st and W Burnside in Portland which was a Cadillac dealership, and for a time at Imperial Motors, a Chrysler dealership on NE Union Avenue. I sold cars for both places. I had gotten married in June 1957 and I joined OSP in October 1958.
Recruit school was at Withycombe. I was there with Bob Seymour and Dick Verbeck and we were part of a class of 18 which was good sized at the time. My first assignment was Grants Pass. Loy Cole was the Command Sergeant, Chuck Wright was Corporal. I was stationed at that office with Robert Moine, Frank Sanders, Phil Bureau, Marvin Ritchie, and Robert Duke Snyder. I was stationed at that office 15 years. And upon making Corporal in 1973 I was sent to Klamath Falls and served with Dick Bouey the Lieutenant and Wayne Tucker the Sergeant. I left Klamath Falls having been promoted to Sergeant in 1981. When I was promoted to Lieutenant I returned to Klamath Falls as Station Commander. A lateral took me to an opening in Beaverton and finally a lateral to McMinnville. Retirement would come for me at McMinnville in October 1986.
When I was in Grants Pass I was 2 or 3 years as a detective. There was a burglary case where Senator Debs Potts who was also Lieutenant Governor was living in Merlin. He had some antiques stolen from his home and I was able to get lucky by finding and nabbing the culprit. Late in 1968 I was designated to drive Senator Potts to the Oregon State Penn riots so he could make an inspection there. With him I toured the prison and saw the damage. I was disappointed when I was in management and watched the introduction of the Union for our Department. It seemed to me we lost camaraderie on all the levels. From the brass to the field we seemed to lose something.
One of the highlights was getting elected to go up to Portland and chauffeur a visiting Governor from Hawaii for the Rose Parade. That Governor sent me a monkey pod bowl of fresh pineapple from Hawaii to say thank you. That was a fun few days doing that assignment.
I have good memories of my years on the State Police. I wouldn't trade the years for anything. It was hectic sometimes but there were some awfully high moments worth reliving over and over.
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