Veteran CPD officers retiring with decades of service

Three of the longest-serving police officers in the history of the Columbus Police Department have transitioned into retirement.

Both Lt. Alan Trisler and Lt. Dave Heeb have worked 36 years on the force – the same number of full years as the Patrolman Cleon Sweeney, who served from 1954 to 1990 and died in 2015.

Trisler’s last day was April 7. Heeb officially retired March 21. The third officer, Lt. Mike Ward, put in 28 years at the Columbus Police Department — plus three years prior with the local sheriff’s department — before retiring March 10.

“Somebody who stays 30-plus years doesn’t happen too often,” Columbus Police Chief Jon Rohde said.

For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.