Sheriff Deputy Charles “Chuck” Henderson paused for a photo on his last day on patrol in Spencerport. He retired the next day, November 19. Operating out of C Zone on Buffalo Road, Chuck has served the community for 24 years, mostly in the Ogden area. He says he is looking forward to spending time doing security work for the Hilton Central School District. When asked about his fondest memory, Chuck replied: “The friends you make; the guys I work with. That’s what I’ll remember the most.” Photograph by Walter Horylev.

Area law enforcement officer retires after 24 years of service

For more than 20 years, people in the Ogden-Parma area could quickly identify Chuck Henderson by the dark blue policeman’s uniform that he wore. Now they will have to get used to seeing him in different garb because on Friday, November 19, he retired from the police force.

From proudly wearing the uniform almost everyday during his 24 years with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the uniform now has a permanent place in his bedroom closet. Not surprisingly, Henderson sees his retirement as bittersweet.

“I am excited about the free time and the other benefits that come with retirement,” he said, “but it’s hard to walk away from something that you have done for so many years and from something that you have loved doing.”

His career
Henderson’s desire to pursue a career in the law began during his high school years when he was a student at Gates Chili High School. After graduating, he attended Monroe Community College where he obtained a criminal justice degree before going to the police academy. After almost 30 weeks of classes and extensive field training, he officially became a member of the force.

From traffic violations and car accidents to robberies and burglaries to snowstorms and fires to suicides and murders, Henderson has seen it all. “There are so many different things that come up while you are on the job so there is really no typical day, which is one of the reasons why I loved the job so much,” he said.

While it’s clear that Henderson enjoyed his years on the police force, some of the things he won’t miss include having to be at work at 5 a.m. and working on holidays. “I’m not a morning person so it will be nice to sleep in,” he joked.

On a serious note, however, Henderson stated that he would miss the people in the community.

“Because of the job, I was able to get to know many of the people,” he said. “It’s hard not to become personally involved since the job involves a lot of contact with people.”

John Page, who owns Page Appliances, has known Henderson for almost 20 years. “Chuck wears his uniform and conducts his job with respect and fairness for everyone,” said Page. “He is very loyal to the west side, especially the greater Spencerport community and is always eager to lend a hand.”

Helping people was the answer Henderson gave when he was asked what the most rewarding part of his job was. “Through my job, I had the opportunity to help others and that’s one of the reasons why I liked my job so much,” he said. “For me it wasn’t just a 9 to 5 job. I did things for others while I was off duty, too, and it was worth it.”

Linda Rauber, Charlene Metallo and MaryJo Galligan of Spencerport Insurance had many positive things to say about Henderson. “He is a witty, caring and very sincere individual,” said Rauber. “Chuck is the type of person who would go the extra step to help a person,” added Galligan. “It wouldn’t matter to him how well he might know the person or not know them. He has a way about him where he is able to put a smile on your face even under strenuous circumstances.”

Being in the middle of dangerous situations was something Henderson had to face on many occasions during his career - whether it was a robbery in progress, a fire or a murder.

“Chuck is the police officer that you want with you in the most stressful situations,” said Sergeant Dan Finnerty, who in addition to being union president was also Henderson’s supervisor. “He is one of the most dependable people I know and he acts calm and cool under pressure. He’s been a great police officer and he’ll definitely be missed.”

While Henderson stated that the danger involved was “just part of the job,” he acknowledged his mother and wife, who were naturally concerned for his safety, are very happy and relieved that he decided to retire.

“Many people just see the uniform that we wear and forget that we are real people too - that we have families, spouses and kids,” he said. “After September 11 that changed somewhat, where we have been given more respect and appreciation but there are still people who don’t understand what it is like for us.”

The next chapter
While Henderson plans to take some time off, he is only 46 years old so it’s not surprising that he isn’t going into complete retirement.

In fact, he already has a job lined up for next year at the Hilton School District where he will work in the district’s Youth Services Department. The new job is a perfect fit for him since he will oversee the security needs of the district and will work with youth on issues such as suspension and discipline.

“I’m looking forward to the new job and the opportunity to use my skills in a different setting,” he said.