“Bill was one of the most interesting people I’ve every known. He had lived a full life, traveled, experienced all kinds of things and always had a great story to tell. But what struck me most about him was that no matter how interesting his own life had been, he always seemed more interested in learning about yours.” ~ PCPD Lieutenant Ben Garrison
All things in Bill Lawter’s life were done with great vigor—his education, his travels, his family life, his friendships. Everything. The man lived, really well. As a matter of fact, his heart issues had led doctors to give him five more years of life in 1999. Five years, and he lived more than two more decades. As a matter of fact, it wasn’t until almost 20 years later when he began what we might call his last, great project that led to a soon-to-be-released book focused on the Ponca City Police Department.
This began when wife Susan mentioned an article she read about an upcoming Citizens Police Academy (CPA), a 12-week program that met on Thursday nights. It was the PCPD’s 22nd annual edition of the program, and it is no wonder it piqued his interest since daughter Allison was with the FBI, giving him a reason to be interested in law enforcement with much more passion than the average person.
Lawter went through CPA twice, both times with Lieutenant Ben Garrison as the primary instructor/coordinator, but let’s think about that first time and where it led. Bill was completely engaged in the process and information, often calling his daughter to discuss different aspects after a class. Once the class was over, he met with then-Chief Don Bohon to see where he might be able to help. His talents and interests led to a few different “duties” he would take on—all of them important and requiring a deep level of time, something Bill was used to since he worked toward perfection in all he did.
Garrison says, “That was very much Bill. He didn’t just enjoy something—he wanted to learn everything he could about it, and then he wanted to figure out how he could contribute and make it better.”
His new goals were to speak to Ponca City civic clubs about CPA to promote more awareness and participation; to redraft the hundreds of slides used in CPA (remember, his life after retirement from Conoco was Write Communications); and to write a series of articles about police work. All these goals meant Bill would be spending ample time with police officers, detention officers and dispatchers, a job he would thoroughly enjoy as his knowledge grew about the department. Garrison, who became very good friends with Bill, says, “He wasn’t satisfied just knowing someone’s name or what their job was. He genuinely wanted to know the person.” Garrison goes on to explain that Bill had a way of making you feel like you were the most important person in the room.”
Later, he even took on ghost writing weekly email updates that went out about what was happening within the department. Lawter re-took CPA with Garrison after he had redesigned the slides for the program. The perfectionist he was, he wanted to ensure they worked as he had planned.
Lawter’s respect for those in the department continued to grow even further the more he learned about them, their jobs and their attitudes. He wrote of their devotion to Ponca City: “Officers consistently showed deference to applicable law and the process surrounding it—exhibiting respect for the public, victims, violators and even those rascal defense attorneys.” Lawter had a humor that drew people to him, while still having an intense seriousness about all he did. He expressed that he began to “understand the dedication required to successfully navigate the maze of difficult situations, applicable law, individual personalities and human emotions involved in law enforcement.” He recognized an attitude that reflected positively on the Ponca City community.
Then, two years or so after he began his volunteering with the department, he realized he had a solid foundation for a book and met with Bohon, then-Deputy Chief Richard Evans (now chief) and Garrison. The written work he had done on the projects had included hundreds of hours of interviews, and he built on those with more, interviewing almost every member of the department. Bohon and others after him gave Lawter free access to the department and those in it. Trust was complete. A trust built on years of committed volunteer service and care for the department and the community.
Lawter felt that the motto “to protect and serve” should be turned around to be “to serve and protect.” He saw their service as a community model that he observed in every aspect of the department, and he had observed or worked in every aspect and knew this to be fact.
Deputy Chief Josh Henderson explains how Lawter’s commitment to his work with the department, his goal to show the people behind the badge at every level, led to their taking him in and making him one of their own. Lawter thrived under the fraternal aspect and feeling his work at PCPD provided for him.
Remember, this was a project taken up after he was already dealing with poor health, and he now had this new mission in life. Those at the department made sure he felt at home there as he worked. They bought his favorite chocolates, he left a cardigan hanging on a coat rack (Henderson later gave it back to daughter Allison), kept his own cup in the break area and even had his own parking spot. He was part of their team.
When asked to describe Lawter, Henderson says, “He was overly determined, incredibly funny and beyond intelligent.” It was likely his wit and fortitude that led them to coin him “Wild Bill.” However, he corrected them that he was, in fact, actually “Mild Bill.” The department honored him, and he was genuinely honored, at a Command Staff Meeting with a badge just like their own that said “Mild Bill.”
Those in the department who worked with Bill most are both sentimental and appreciative of his efforts and his views about their work and department. Garrison explains, “It was his idea, his vision and something he devoted years of his life to.” There was no doubt Lawter cared about getting history and the stories right.
Lawter’s book 21,000 Calls: Behind the Badge in Ponca City will be published by Oklahoma Hall of Fame Publishing and support for its publishing, as well as any profit made from the book, will go to the Ponca City Police Foundation. The foundation is a nonprofit organization established in the late 1990s to support PCPD and operates through citizens who serve on its Board of Trustees. Trustee Larry Bittman explained the resources are used to supplement the department’s budget for specialized programs, equipment needed beyond what is in their overall budget and community activities, such as the Shop With a Cop program during the Christmas season and running the local Citizens Police Academy—the very program that began Lawter’s journey with the department.
The book project was of the utmost importance to Bill. Last spring he told his daughter Allison, “If I can’t finish, you have to do this and publish the book.” For the most part, he had completed the project when he passed on June 9. Allison mentions that even the editors at the publishing company only had minor edits. He had completed the book with the same precision as he had done everything else in his life.
Garrison says, “I’m extremely grateful for the friendship we had, and I’m glad that the work he put into preserving this department’s history will continue telling the stories for a long time to come.”
Daughter Allison explains there will be more publicity as soon as the actual launch date is known, so join me in watching for news about that and taking advantage of the book and any release party or reception that will likely happen right here in Ponca City, a community Bill Lawter loved.
What a tremendous gift of information and stories to this city and, especially, Ponca City Police Department. Lawter’s life was filled with bucket list after bucket list, mission after mission, and they continued throughout his entire life. A life filled with joy in all he did.
