Retired Ceres Police Chief Leroy B. Cunningham died in his home Friday of prostate cancer. He was 76.
Sunday, two Ceres police officers were shot in the line of duty, one killed, the other critically injured. The tragedy leaves family and friends contemplating how Mr. Cunningham, a man who devoted thirty-four years to law enforcement, would react.
"If Leroy was still alive, he would be weeping for the family and the Ceres community," said Jim Marshall, a longtime friend. "He had very deep feelings for the individuals in the department and everyone in the city."
Marshall, Merced's city manager, met Mr. Cunningham in 1975 when he was hired as city manager of Ceres.
During Mr. Cunningham's twent-seven years as chief, the safety of his officers was a top priority, said his daughter, Dawn Cunningham.
Both his daughter and Marshall remember Mr. Cunningham as a man who was fair, who treated others with respect and who was committed to his community.
Born June, 29, 1928, in Turlock, and a resident of Ceres until he died, Mr. Cunningham lived his life in Stanislaus County. Marshall said he had a great deal of love and admiration for the people of Ceres.
Mr. Cunningham's career with the Ceres Police Department began as a patrol officer in 1949. In 1950, he joined the Army and served two years in Korea. When he returned to Ceres, he was promoted to police sergeant before being named chief in 1956.
Shortly after he retired in 1983, Mr. Cunningham became a grandfather. "That really became his new career," his daughter said.
She said her recent memories of him are as a proud, devoted grandfather to his eight grandchildren and great grandson. "He was the 'answer man' for our kids," Dawn Cunningham said. It was common for Dawn and her brothers to refer their children's questions to their grandpa, she said, "because if he didn't know the answer, he'd find out."
But Marshall said Mr. Cunningham still kept an eye on Ceres police even after his retirement. "In pretty typical Leroy fashion, he kept track of people in the Police Department," Marshall said. "He wasn't trying to run the department from the outside, but just cared about the people who were there."
When he retired, Mr. Cunningham was the longest serving chief in Stanislaus County, and was recognized as the county's "dean of chiefs."
Mr. Cunningham was an active member in many community service organizations, including The Salvation Army. He was a life member of the Stanislaus County Peace Officers Association and the California Police Chiefs Association.
In 2004, Cunningham was nominated for an Ethics in Public Service Award, presented by California State University, Stanislaus, and The Bee. Marshall said being nominated for the award spoke to the heart of who Mr. Cunningham was.
"He had great personal integrity and high recognition of the value of ethics," Marshall said. "I wish we had a lot more Leroy Cunninghams around today."
Mr. Cunningham is survived by his wife, Catherine Cunningham of Ceres; and children, Dawn Cunningham and Greg Cunningham, both of Modesto, and Todd Cunningham of Diamond Springs.
A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Ceres Fire Station No.1, 2225 North Street.
Published in The Modesto Bee.
Sunday, two Ceres police officers were shot in the line of duty, one killed, the other critically injured. The tragedy leaves family and friends contemplating how Mr. Cunningham, a man who devoted thirty-four years to law enforcement, would react.
"If Leroy was still alive, he would be weeping for the family and the Ceres community," said Jim Marshall, a longtime friend. "He had very deep feelings for the individuals in the department and everyone in the city."
Marshall, Merced's city manager, met Mr. Cunningham in 1975 when he was hired as city manager of Ceres.
During Mr. Cunningham's twent-seven years as chief, the safety of his officers was a top priority, said his daughter, Dawn Cunningham.
Both his daughter and Marshall remember Mr. Cunningham as a man who was fair, who treated others with respect and who was committed to his community.
Born June, 29, 1928, in Turlock, and a resident of Ceres until he died, Mr. Cunningham lived his life in Stanislaus County. Marshall said he had a great deal of love and admiration for the people of Ceres.
Mr. Cunningham's career with the Ceres Police Department began as a patrol officer in 1949. In 1950, he joined the Army and served two years in Korea. When he returned to Ceres, he was promoted to police sergeant before being named chief in 1956.
Shortly after he retired in 1983, Mr. Cunningham became a grandfather. "That really became his new career," his daughter said.
She said her recent memories of him are as a proud, devoted grandfather to his eight grandchildren and great grandson. "He was the 'answer man' for our kids," Dawn Cunningham said. It was common for Dawn and her brothers to refer their children's questions to their grandpa, she said, "because if he didn't know the answer, he'd find out."
But Marshall said Mr. Cunningham still kept an eye on Ceres police even after his retirement. "In pretty typical Leroy fashion, he kept track of people in the Police Department," Marshall said. "He wasn't trying to run the department from the outside, but just cared about the people who were there."
When he retired, Mr. Cunningham was the longest serving chief in Stanislaus County, and was recognized as the county's "dean of chiefs."
Mr. Cunningham was an active member in many community service organizations, including The Salvation Army. He was a life member of the Stanislaus County Peace Officers Association and the California Police Chiefs Association.
In 2004, Cunningham was nominated for an Ethics in Public Service Award, presented by California State University, Stanislaus, and The Bee. Marshall said being nominated for the award spoke to the heart of who Mr. Cunningham was.
"He had great personal integrity and high recognition of the value of ethics," Marshall said. "I wish we had a lot more Leroy Cunninghams around today."
Mr. Cunningham is survived by his wife, Catherine Cunningham of Ceres; and children, Dawn Cunningham and Greg Cunningham, both of Modesto, and Todd Cunningham of Diamond Springs.
A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Ceres Fire Station No.1, 2225 North Street.
Published in The Modesto Bee.
Retired Ceres Police Chief Leroy B. Cunningham died in his home Friday of prostate cancer. He was 76.
Sunday, two Ceres police officers were shot in the line of duty, one killed, the other critically injured. The tragedy leaves family and friends contemplating how Mr. Cunningham, a man who devoted thirty-four years to law enforcement, would react.
"If Leroy was still alive, he would be weeping for the family and the Ceres community," said Jim Marshall, a longtime friend. "He had very deep feelings for the individuals in the department and everyone in the city."
Marshall, Merced's city manager, met Mr. Cunningham in 1975 when he was hired as city manager of Ceres.
During Mr. Cunningham's twent-seven years as chief, the safety of his officers was a top priority, said his daughter, Dawn Cunningham.
Both his daughter and Marshall remember Mr. Cunningham as a man who was fair, who treated others with respect and who was committed to his community.
Born June, 29, 1928, in Turlock, and a resident of Ceres until he died, Mr. Cunningham lived his life in Stanislaus County. Marshall said he had a great deal of love and admiration for the people of Ceres.
Mr. Cunningham's career with the Ceres Police Department began as a patrol officer in 1949. In 1950, he joined the Army and served two years in Korea. When he returned to Ceres, he was promoted to police sergeant before being named chief in 1956.
Shortly after he retired in 1983, Mr. Cunningham became a grandfather. "That really became his new career," his daughter said.
She said her recent memories of him are as a proud, devoted grandfather to his eight grandchildren and great grandson. "He was the 'answer man' for our kids," Dawn Cunningham said. It was common for Dawn and her brothers to refer their children's questions to their grandpa, she said, "because if he didn't know the answer, he'd find out."
But Marshall said Mr. Cunningham still kept an eye on Ceres police even after his retirement. "In pretty typical Leroy fashion, he kept track of people in the Police Department," Marshall said. "He wasn't trying to run the department from the outside, but just cared about the people who were there."
When he retired, Mr. Cunningham was the longest serving chief in Stanislaus County, and was recognized as the county's "dean of chiefs."
Mr. Cunningham was an active member in many community service organizations, including The Salvation Army. He was a life member of the Stanislaus County Peace Officers Association and the California Police Chiefs Association.
In 2004, Cunningham was nominated for an Ethics in Public Service Award, presented by California State University, Stanislaus, and The Bee. Marshall said being nominated for the award spoke to the heart of who Mr. Cunningham was.
"He had great personal integrity and high recognition of the value of ethics," Marshall said. "I wish we had a lot more Leroy Cunninghams around today."
Mr. Cunningham is survived by his wife, Catherine Cunningham of Ceres; and children, Dawn Cunningham and Greg Cunningham, both of Modesto, and Todd Cunningham of Diamond Springs.
A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Ceres Fire Station No.1, 2225 North Street.
Published in The Modesto Bee.
Sunday, two Ceres police officers were shot in the line of duty, one killed, the other critically injured. The tragedy leaves family and friends contemplating how Mr. Cunningham, a man who devoted thirty-four years to law enforcement, would react.
"If Leroy was still alive, he would be weeping for the family and the Ceres community," said Jim Marshall, a longtime friend. "He had very deep feelings for the individuals in the department and everyone in the city."
Marshall, Merced's city manager, met Mr. Cunningham in 1975 when he was hired as city manager of Ceres.
During Mr. Cunningham's twent-seven years as chief, the safety of his officers was a top priority, said his daughter, Dawn Cunningham.
Both his daughter and Marshall remember Mr. Cunningham as a man who was fair, who treated others with respect and who was committed to his community.
Born June, 29, 1928, in Turlock, and a resident of Ceres until he died, Mr. Cunningham lived his life in Stanislaus County. Marshall said he had a great deal of love and admiration for the people of Ceres.
Mr. Cunningham's career with the Ceres Police Department began as a patrol officer in 1949. In 1950, he joined the Army and served two years in Korea. When he returned to Ceres, he was promoted to police sergeant before being named chief in 1956.
Shortly after he retired in 1983, Mr. Cunningham became a grandfather. "That really became his new career," his daughter said.
She said her recent memories of him are as a proud, devoted grandfather to his eight grandchildren and great grandson. "He was the 'answer man' for our kids," Dawn Cunningham said. It was common for Dawn and her brothers to refer their children's questions to their grandpa, she said, "because if he didn't know the answer, he'd find out."
But Marshall said Mr. Cunningham still kept an eye on Ceres police even after his retirement. "In pretty typical Leroy fashion, he kept track of people in the Police Department," Marshall said. "He wasn't trying to run the department from the outside, but just cared about the people who were there."
When he retired, Mr. Cunningham was the longest serving chief in Stanislaus County, and was recognized as the county's "dean of chiefs."
Mr. Cunningham was an active member in many community service organizations, including The Salvation Army. He was a life member of the Stanislaus County Peace Officers Association and the California Police Chiefs Association.
In 2004, Cunningham was nominated for an Ethics in Public Service Award, presented by California State University, Stanislaus, and The Bee. Marshall said being nominated for the award spoke to the heart of who Mr. Cunningham was.
"He had great personal integrity and high recognition of the value of ethics," Marshall said. "I wish we had a lot more Leroy Cunninghams around today."
Mr. Cunningham is survived by his wife, Catherine Cunningham of Ceres; and children, Dawn Cunningham and Greg Cunningham, both of Modesto, and Todd Cunningham of Diamond Springs.
A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Ceres Fire Station No.1, 2225 North Street.
Published in The Modesto Bee.
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