Hodges Retires From WPD After 36 YearsWarsaw Police Department honored Lt. Chuck Hodges after retiring with 36 years of services to the city.
Hodges leaves behind an “endless trail of memories, nicknames and one-liners after all these years,” according to a post on the WPD Facebook page. “Historically, Lt. Hodges has left a mark on many incidents in the city over these years.”
He was instrumental in the creation of this area’s first SWAT team, which was born out of the tragic loss of Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Det./Sgt. Phillip Hochstetler, the post states. Hochstetler was murdered in 1994 by a suspect, David Swearingen, who then killed his two small children. Hodges was one of the officers responsible for bringing an end to the subsequent days-long manhunt afterward.
Hodges also was a member of the Warsaw Dive Team and credited for nine recoveries over the years, according to the post.
He was vital in the rebirth of the city motorcycle program to help with traffic enforcement on U.S. 30 and other problem areas around the city. The Harley also was used as a public relations tool in the community.
“We are sad to see Chuck go, but we are thankful for all he has done for the Warsaw Police Department and our city,” the post states.
On Wednesday, WPD used the police garage to share lunch, stories and jokes with department members to send off the day-shift lieutenant in style. He received several tokens of appreciation from WPD.
Police Chief Scott Whitaker presented Hodges with his retirement plaque.
