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Orlando Man Is Invaluable To Orlando Police Department

POSTED: 3:17 pm EDT June 1, 2007
UPDATED: 3:37 pm EDT June 6, 2007

Invaluable--That's how the men at the Orlando Police Department's gun range describe Dick Stipe.

Over the past 13 years, Stipe has volunteered more than 13,000 hours, helping train new officers and more for the police department.

The people who run the police training gun range in Winter Park said Dick Stipe really runs the place. Stipe has helped pretty much every new Orlando police officer for the last decade. He makes sure the range is ready for them, shows them how to clean their weapons and put them back together and much more.

When asked what keeps him going, Stipe said, "I'm only 77, but I feel like I'm about 40. Firearms has also been my big thing, my avocation. If I'd had a job like this, I wouldn't retire. And I've worked harder here than any office job I had."

Stipe's been doing this for 10 years. He started volunteering at the Orlando Police Department 13 years ago. Since then, he's given more than 13,000 volunteer hours to the department, most of those hours here at the gun range.

"I guess it's like everyone says, it's payback to the community that's given to me. And I 've made a lot of new friends. I get treated with a great deal of respect, and people appreciate what I do out here," said Stipe.

Stipe gets a big kick out of being able to help the new officers, too. "This is the only chance I get the chance to tell cops what they can do and they can't do. And they listen."

To comment on this story, send an e-mail to Wendy Chioji.