LMPD :: Louisville Metro Police Department
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Mayor Greg Fischer, LMPD to throw farewell reception for Robert White

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RE: Mayor Greg Fischer, LMPD to throw farewell reception for...

December 7th, 2011 @ 2:57PM (12 years ago)

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - It's the last week on the job for Chief Robert White of the Louisville Metro Police Department. Tuesday night, the people who knew him best got a chance to say goodbye after the chief's nine years of service here in Louisville.

White leaves for the Mile High City in just a few days to become Denver's new chief. But despite all the excitement for the new job, he got a little emotional as a big crowd came out to a party at Churchill Downs to thank him for his work here.

Whether it was a packed house of supporters or remembering the way folks in Louisville treated his wife Valerie with kindness.

"There are always calls and always prayers and we just appreciate it," said Valerie White.

The honors and gifts could have triggered it, gifts like the Coach Charlie Strong football for good luck or maybe it was the baby photos that were shown on a big screen and the photos back in the days when the chief had hair. It all brought a reaction to Louisville's outgoing police chief that even he didn't expect.

"I promised myself I would not get emotional," White said, "but this is a wild moment and I am really overwhelmed."

Those who worked with Chief White early on recall his dedication.

"He would be at work before five every morning and he would never leave before seven every night," said Major Kim Kraeszig, commander of the Fourth Division.

"He was the right guy at the right time for this community of ours," said former Louisville mayor Jerry Abramson, White's former boss.

The man who hired White to merge the old city department with county police is glad he did.

"We needed somebody who really was able to make the tough decisions and to lead this community into a new era," Abramson said.

Commonwealth's Attorney Dave Stengel recalls White's brutal honesty.

"You could trust his word," said Stengel, "and he's blunt, he'll tell you what he thinks."

White earned Stengel's respect by surviving a divided department when racial tensions were high in the community.

"A previous chief said, 'David, he's going to die the death of 1000 cuts,' and he didn't," Stengel remembered.

White told us it will be tough to say goodbye. "It is very hard to leave you know, this is bittersweet."

"I think he loves challenges that's why he's going," said Major Donnie Chambers about his friend taking the Denver job.

"We hope he has the same success in Denver and really enjoys the cold snowy weather he's about to face," joked Kraeszig.

The weather won't be a problem as long as White can get a few tickets to see Tim Tebow and the Broncos.

"I'm a big Tim Tebow fan and I'm going to the game on Sunday," said White while laughing.