By Sheryl Roadcap

[email protected]

PIQUA — After 33 of service with the Piqua Police Department (PPD), now former Deputy Chief of Police Marty Grove has traded in the daily fast-pace rush of police work for the more laid-back lifestyle of retirement.

“I am going to miss the people I worked with and the citizens I connected with on a daily and weekly basis for the past 35-36 years,” said Grove. “But I am not going to miss the 2 a.m. phone calls to get to a crime scene that no one should experience.”

His official last day on the job with the PPD was Sept. 6. Grove was sworn-in to serve the city of Piqua in August 1991, where he spent his entire career, but it was in 1988 when he first began his journey to become a police officer as an unarmed volunteer helping with city parade functions.

Although Grove will not miss the 2 a.m. phone calls, he does speak highly of police work and his time as an officer, especially patrol operations, which gets the heart pumping, he noted.

“It’s the patrol officers that hold our city together; I cannot stress that enough. I wasn’t a patrol officer for 15 years, being a deputy chief, but those are the guys who deserve all the credit,” Grove said. “Those are the officers that are on the front line. The ones that get the nuisance, abandoned vehicles; barking dog complaints. But then, it’s the excitement that you leave that and then it involves you driving with lights and sirens to a shooting or a robbery-type call. So, your blood pressure is 55 beats a minute, one minute, and double that, literally, the next minute.”

Grove admitted he always wanted to be a police officer since he was a child and thoroughly enjoyed his career serving the people of the city of Piqua. Moving through the ranks, he initially began as a patrol officer, and in this position worked as a patrol investigator, a field training officer and an officer in charge. It was during that time that became a member of the Sidney-Piqua Tactical Response Team (TRT). Grove also was a detective at one point, and then was promoted to a first shift supervisor in the patrol division again before eventually becoming deputy chief. He also served as president of the Miami County Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).

When asked about standout moments throughout his career, he said that of course there were many positive times, and he was honored to receive Piqua’s Jan Mulder Citizenship Award, but unfortunately the negative, difficult events tend to standout most. Grove sadly recalled two house fires, in which three children between the two incidents died after he was unable to enter the burning structures.

Aside from the obvious changes in technology, Grove said one major change over the course of his career is the interest of the public to become a police officer. When Grove applied to become a police officer, he said he was one of no less than 100 others vying for the job, whereas now, it is difficult for police departments to find enough qualified candidates who want to do the job. The emergence of the use of body cameras has been another big change. Grove said it has improved the department and provides officers with an additional tool to do the job.

Looking toward the future, Grove said he is happy to finally have time to get to those projects around the house and do some traveling, but will miss the rush of his job.

“I will miss the excitement of calls coming in,” Grove said. “It has been a very rewarding career; it was a noble job.”

City of Piqua Safety Services Director/Chief of Police Rick Byron said, “On behalf of the entire department, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations on your retirement after an impressive 33 years of dedicated service. I hope you take pride in all that you have accomplished. Thank you for your unwavering service and the countless sacrifices you’ve made to the city of Piqua and the Piqua Police Department. Enjoy every moment of your well-deserved retirement!”

City of Piqua Human Resources Director Catherine Bogan said of Grove, “During Marty’s outstanding tenure with the city of Piqua, he not only served as a deputy chief of police, but also as a mentor and a friend to many in our community. We wish him joy in his well-deserved retirement.”

“Deputy Chief Marty Grove’s service to the Piqua community have been nothing short of exemplary,”said City Manager Paul Oberdorfer. “For over three decades, he has not only upheld the law with integrity and courage but has also been a pillar of strength and compassion for our city. His leadership and commitment have left an indelible mark on the Piqua Police Department and the community at large. As he steps into retirement, we celebrate his remarkable career and extend our deepest gratitude for his unwavering dedication.”

Grove resides in Piqua. He looks forward to having more time with family, including his mother, who lives near, and two sons Darrin and Kurt and their wives, who live in Columbus.