Janice Passmore, Captain on the Richmond Police Department retired Friday, December 17, 2010 after serving nearly 30 years as an officer, a detective and finally a Captain.
At the gathering for her retirement Police Chief Kris Wolski said that every officer hopes to “accomplish milestones while serving the community well,” he added that this was true of Captain Passmore in her time with RPD. He continued to say that they “appreciate her service to the department and to the community.” Chief Wolski wished Captain Passmore well in her future endeavors.
Janice made a short speech about her time with RPD. She shared that she was “proud to say she had served the department for 29 plus years and to be able to serve the people of Richmond.” She added it had not always been easy but she appreciated the people who taught her and were a friend to her “through thick and thin.”
Mayor Sally Hutton
stopped in to congratulate Captain Passmore and to share in the celebration. And a good friend and mentor, Jon Carrico came up from Florida, and was able to share in the recognition of her time with the department. Carrico was Janice’s FTO (Field Training Officer) back when she started in the 1981. One important piece of advice that Janice remembered Carrico saying during her training was to “always know where you are,” which sounds easier than it is considering all the unknown side streets in Richmond, according to Passmore. Janice went on to become the first woman to make 25 years on the force.
Janice’s first choice for a career after high school was to become a physical education teacher. However, at that time there was an abundance of teachers so she was counseled not to go that route. Her dream job had been to be a police officer like the female officer portrayed by Angie Dickenson in the series “Police Woman.”
But Janice thought this was “just television” and couldn’t be a dream realized. Until the day that Captain Terry LaFuze came to talk to her class about working for the RPD and encouraged female students to consider this field. And that marked the beginning of Officer Passmore’s road to serving her community for the next 30 years.
Captain Janice Passmore took her last ride patrolling Richmond that evening as she ended her day and her career with the Richmond Police Department. Congratulations Captain Passmore on your accomplishments and we thank you for the many long years you served our community.
Congratulations Janice! Thanks for all your years of service to the community!