Volunteer Retires After 35 Years As A Walnut Creek Police Reserve Officer

While you were enjoying your weekends the past 35 years, John Davison was helping patrol the streets of Walnut Creek on many a Friday and Saturday night.

For free.

Davison retired a couple weeks ago after spending three and a half decades as a reserve officer for the Walnut Creek Police Department.

Reserve officers are volunteers. Their main job is to back up and assist the sworn officers of the department, but they do wear a uniform, carry a gun, write citations and detain people when necessary.

"It was something that the more and more I did it, the more it became a way of life," said Davison.

Davison always had an interest in law enforcement.

He grew up in Orinda and graduated from Miramonte High School in 1963.

He attended Diablo Valley College and worked on the campus police force. Back then, he patrolled the community college grounds in a flatbed truck, armed with a baseball bat.

"It was something out of the caveman times," said Davison, "but I was fascinated by it."

He then attended Northern Arizona University and earned a bachelor's degree in police science.

Shortly after graduating, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He was sent to Vietnam during the height of that war in 1967 and 1968.

He spent 18 months in the Army and when he was done he had decided against a career in law enforcement.

"When I got home from Vietnam I didn't want to do anything that involved a gun," he said.

So, Davison went into sales, a career he still has after more than 40 years. He now works for Moore Newton Quality Hardwoods, a company based in San Leandro.

Davison moved to Walnut Creek in 1971 and seven years later got the itch to get back into law enforcement service. He didn't want to do it full time, so the reserve program seemed like the perfect opportunity.

Davison joined the reserves on May 25, 1978 and kept at it until a couple weeks ago.

Reserves work 20 to 25 hours a month, most of it on weekend nights when the regular forces needs back-up the most.

Davison said he enjoyed helping people and diffusing potentially volatile situations.

He's had a few wild rides in the past 35 years.

He remembers being involved in a chase where a robbery suspect finally smacked into a pole on Interstate 680.

Another time he was with an officer while they followed a stolen car suspect in a chase where the thief's car reached speeds of 110 miles per hour. That pursuit also ended in a crash and the arrest of the suspect.

Another time he was patrolling at the Walnut Festival when a young woman fell and broke her elbow so badly that the bone was sticking out of her arm. He comforted her until medical personnel arrived.

He also helped arrest a man who was on PCP, the suspect showing some incredible strength in his crazed mode.

Davison's decision to retire was based simply on nature. He felt he had slowed up enough with age that he might be an impediment to other officers.

Davison now looks back fondly on his years as a police volunteer, remembering the assistance he provided and the fellowship with others on the force.

He also credits Debbie Johnson, the woman he has been with for the past 20 years, for her patience and understanding while he was out in the field on Friday and Saturday nights.

"She's been absolutely a godsend," said Davison.

Walnut Creek Police Chief Tom Chaplin had high praise for Davison.

"The retirement of Reserve Officer Davison marks the end of an era for the Walnut Creek Police Department," said Chaplin. "He served with distinction for 35 years and provided an exceptional service to the city of Walnut Creek, all voluntary.  He is regarded as an institution at the Police Department and will be greatly missed.  He deserves our appreciation and gratitude for his contributions to the community and the Police Department.  He epitomized service and professionalism during his time with the department."