Avon Police Chief Richard Bosley retiring from department at end of month

AVON — Avon Police Chief Richard Bosley, who didn't expect to become a policeman while growing up, will retire at the end of this month following a decades-long career in law enforcement. At his retirement party Wednesday, Bosley said his childhood goal was to become an accountant. But that would change after he decided to try the law enforcement and securities program at the Lorain County JVS as a high school student, under instructor Steve Maurer. "I hate to say this, I kind of went out there as a joke just to see what the program was like," Bosley said. "And I really got into it and I really enjoyed it." He got his start in policing with the Grafton Police Department at the start of the 1990s, then worked for the Elyria Police Department from 1995 to 1999. Bosley was hired at the Avon Police Department in 1999 and rose through the ranks to become chief, a position he has held since 2011. Those years as chief have seen changes to the law enforcement profession that are "much more rapid than I've ever seen them," Bosley said. He said officers are facing more difficult and unique challenges now than they were earlier in his career. As he begins his retirement in July, Bosley plans to take the first couple of months off and evaluate future plans from there. One thing that will certainly be part of those plans is traveling. Bosley said he bought a camper and has goals to see all the national parks. Mayor Bryan Jensen, who has worked with Bosley regularly since taking office, was highly complimentary when describing the chief. "I think the thing that makes him unique is that he has the persona that he's firm, but he is still very compassionate," he said. Jensen said Bosley never backed down from his integrity amid challenging times, perhaps none more notable than a 2016 incident that drew international attention to the department. Businessman Ahmed Al Menhali, of the United Arab Emirates, was in the lobby of the Fairfield Inn & Suites seeking accommodations when Avon police received a false report that he was "pledging his allegiance to ISIS." Police approached Al Menhali with guns drawn and handcuffed him. He was released after it became clear the report was false, according to past reporting on the incident. Jensen and Bosley later met with Al Menhali and apologized. Jensen said it was clear Bosley was troubled that the incident happened, and he believes that "doing the right thing is always at the forefront for him." Lt. Dan Fischbach will become the next Avon police chief starting next month. Bosley described Fischbach as a sharp individual who has lived in Avon his entire life and is committed to the city. "I'm sure the department will do well under him," Bosley said. "As the city changes, so will the department." Changes such as adapting to a new police chief always take time to get used to, Jensen said, but he believes Fischbach is the right person for the job. Fischbach was not able to be reached for comment Thursday. Contact Dylan Reynolds at (440) 329-7123 or dreynolds@chroniclet.com. Follow him on Twitter @drey1357.