Exerpt from the Livonia City News Letter
Meet One of Our Original Police Officers (1952) who climbed the ranks and after 31 years became Public Safety Director before retiring in 1986.
Meet Bob Turner—
Livonia Police Officer 1952
Livonia Police Chief 1969
Public Safety Director 1983
The Livonia Police Department honored Chief Turner for his years of service by naming the police headquarters the Robert J. Turner Building
Robert J. Turner was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. Robert went to school at St. Cecilia High School in Detroit and joined the Navy in 1942. He was assigned to the battleship USS Washington (BB-56) and commissioned to the war in the South Pacific from 1942-1945. They engaged in many battles alongside the Indiana, South Dakota, Iowa, Alabama, and Minneapolis. The Washington and crew earned 13 Battle Stars and was never hit and never lost a man to the enemy.
Bob was hired into the Livonia Police Department on February 18, 1952. He was a hardworking police officer who graduated from the FBI Academy and became Chief of Detectives while working nights at the Detroit Race Course.
As he rose through the ranks and became an inspirational leader, he was promoted to Chief of Police on October 27, 1969, and continued in that position until December 1, 1983. Bob did a term as President of the Michigan Association of Police Chiefs from 1975-76.
The “Chief” was a policeman’s policeman and did everything he could to lead his officers with integrity and hard police work. Bob would battle with media, Mayors, unions, the Treasurer, City Hall, and many others to be sure his officers were getting the respect and resources to get the job done. He was also very protective of the citizens of Livonia and would have his rookie officers walking the beat in the neighborhoods to build relationships and trust with the citizens.
Bob finished his career as the Director of Public Safety until he retired on January 10, 1986.