(http://www.vtgrandpa.com/newsclips/pete_lavallee.jpg)
(The above photo was a contributed photo to The Burlington Free Press
Pete is the son of Roger & Elaine Lavallee of Westford
His sister JoAnne Wilkins is a mail carrier here in Fairfax.)
Lt. Lavallee leaves department after 34 years
By Lynn Monty, Free Press Staff Writer
SOUTH BURLINGTON— South Burlington Chief of Police Trevor Whipple has a very large desk.
Two years ago, during his first week on the job, he had an important meeting with the city manager at his desk. It wasn’t until the meeting was over did the new chief realize he had a practical joker among his officers—someone had turned his desk completely around.
The jokester was Lt. Pete LaVallee who recently retired after 34 years with the South Burlington Police Department. A celebration was held in his honor June 27 at St. John Vianney Hall in South Burlington.
“Opportunities present themselves and when they do you have to take advantage,” LaVallee said with a chuckle.
LaVallee became an officer after completing the criminal justice program at Champlain College. “I knew when I left high school that I wanted to work outside and make a difference in peoples lives,” he said.
He attributes his long career in South Burlington to the community. “There is a lot of interaction and support in this community,” LaVallee said.
“South Burlington is like a big family,” he said. “When the crap hits the fan everyone comes together. It could be flooding, a robbery or threats at the high school ... all of the resources gather and work as a team.”
LaVallee began his career as a patrol officer and became sargent after seven years, he said. He served as a detective for six years but said he missed patrol. “I liked being in uniform and in a car. People take notice and wave.” His most rewarding experiences have been programs like “Kids & Cops” and working with seniors through “The Good Morning Program,” he said.
“Kids & Cops” is a program designed to promote a healthy relationship between children and police officers. Working in collaboration with the University of Vermont, sports cards are designed with UVM athletes, police officers and children, each with inspirational messages and ways to avoid confrontation on the back. Children can attend a free sports clinic if they collect all 15 cards. To get the cards children have to interact with and approach police officers in town, he said.
“The Good Morning Program” is 15-years strong, LaVallee said. Seniors call the police station before 10 a.m. each morning to say hello. “It’s a morning greeting exchange,” LaVallee said. “If they don’t call, we call. If there is no answer, we head on over.”
Whether it’s a diabetic reaction or otherwise, the program has saved and helped many people, he said. “We get to know them pretty well and around the holidays we host a party and we even go pick them up if they needed a ride.”
LaVallee, a self-confessed Jack-of-all-trades, said he has the ability to multi-task but has decided to take it easy for the summer and is leaving his many retirement options open for now. Whipple said LaVallee has been one of the longest serving members in the department. “I came in as a new police chief and found his guidance and support invaluable,” Whipple said. “He carries a phenomenal amount of institutional and community knowledge.”
Whipple said LaVallee has been a stable influence in the department and will be missed. His sense of humor helped to bring a little light to a sometimes arduous job, he said. “He’s a hard worker and gets the job done but Pete found a way to inject a sense of love of life into his job.”
But pay back has come, Whipple said. “I am not a practical joker but he did turn my desk around to test my sense of humor,” he said. “It’s customary to present a plaque to a retiring officer. Pete will be getting a plaque but he will need a mirror to read it.”
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