Lockport deputy police chief retires

LOCKPORT – The Lockport Police Department’s deputy chief retired Friday after 28 years on the force.

“You never think about it as it’s happening and then ... 28 years. That went fast,” Dave Draksler said.

When Draksler joined the department in 1987, Lockport had only 15 full- and part-time officers who shared five squad cars – one of which was always assigned to the chief.

“[Being a police officer] was just something I always wanted to do,” Draksler said.

Draksler began as a patrol officer and spent many years as a detective before he started taking over administrative duties. He was named the Lockport Exchange Club’s Police Officer of the Year three times.

Draksler served as interim chief for 2013 and sought the permanent position, but the City Council voted to hire Terry Lemming after recommendations from a paid consultant.

“You don’t realize the support you get from the public and how much it means. The number of people who did speak up for me, that was the highlight of my career,” Draksler said Friday.

Lemming said coming in as an outsider, his deputy chief gave him a “great historical perspective of the department.”

“He’s very intelligent. A great leader. Well-respected by everybody – officers and citizens,” Lemming said.

Lemming said Draksler recently made efforts to modernize the department and address officer safety issues.

“At a shooting incident [in early 2014], we set up a perimeter where the officers could see each other but couldn’t talk to each other on analog radios. He used that to show the need for digital radios,” Lemming said.

Draksler said Friday he plans to remain in the area.