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A man of few words, Epple's efforts say a lot
Never one to mince words, retiring Greencastle City Police Officer Albert Epple was succinct, subtle and right to the point -- as he always seems to be -- at his retirement reception Friday afternoon.
Essentially, Officer Epple -- who has retired from the Greencastle Police Department after 24 years -- told friends, family and fellow officers in attendance at City Hall three things.
It was a good career.
Thanks for everything.
And goodbye.
"You're a man of few words," Officer Epple was told later.
And his response was oh-so-apropos.
"I am," he said.
Yet one of the things GPD Chief Tom Sutherlin said epitomizes Epple is that he could always talk to anybody at any time.
"Albert," Sutherlin offered, "is a people person. He's always had the ability to talk to everybody on their level.
"He has the ability to communicate with everyone and earn their respect," he added. "You know how important that is to earn someone's respect. Albert was always respected. He's always had the respect of the community and of his peers."
But the chief agreed with the man-of-few-words characterization.
"You didn't have long conversations with him," Sutherlin acknowledged. "They were short and sweet."
Epple, who was comfortable as a patrolman his entire career and created relationships within the community that will last a lifetime, said he was pleased to have had a safe and successful career.
He was never seriously injured. In fact, he said the worst injury he suffered in the line of duty was one of his own doing. He sprained his ankle getting out of his patrol car at Jaycee Park and had to wear a boot until it healed.
The injury occurred, wife Tina confided, while Epple was on a smoke break because officers aren't allowed to smoke in their patrol cars.
Chief Sutherlin, who earlier presented Epple his retirement Gold Badge, overheard that remark and couldn't resist filling in the details.
"He was following department policy," the chief interjected, "doing what he was supposed to be doing."
What he will be doing in the future, however, is still uncertain, although Epple plans to work part-time security at Ivy Tech.
He also plans to buy a new car -- "probably a Dodge Dart" -- and take a long vacation to travel the U.S. That all will start with a trip to California at the end of this month with a stop at Carlsbad Caverns on the way.
Epple and wife Tina reside in Fillmore and have five children between them. They plan to spoil their four grandkids now that there's more time for that.
"He's probably the only police officer who left his phone number in the telephone book the whole time," Tina noted. "It was like an open-door policy at our house."
She also knew, like any emergency services spouse, that her husband wasn't always going to be home when the clock struck 5 o'clock.
One night, she and some girlfriends had put an evening together for their families but Albert called to say he'd be late.
"He said, 'There's a cow loose in the park.' That's how you know you're a cop's wife when 'there's a cow loose in the park' is a good excuse for coming home late."
His wife was also alongside Officer Epple when he tried to make peace at the Walmart store one holiday weekend.
The Epples had been waiting their turn at the deli counter with several others when one of the customers grew belligerent and threw his sliced ham at the deli clerk.
"He was mad," Epple explained, "because someone cut in front of him at the deli."
Epple, not in uniform, tried to calm everyone down. Remember, he has that knack of being able to talk to anybody.
However, the guy hamming it up made a big mistake, wife Tina assured.
"He put his hands on Albert," she said, "and the next thing I know, Albert has him on the ground restrained."
No words necessary there.
Actions, it appears, do speak louder than words in Albert Epple's world.