Wayne Allen | Daily Times

Robert Ware (left) as he is being sworn in as the city of Portsmouth’s 59th Chief of Police by Portsmouth Mayor David Malone (right).

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Wayne Allen

PDT Staff Writer

Robert K. Ware, II was sworn in Friday as the city of Portsmouth’s 59th Chief of Police. The ceremony was held at the Portsmouth Holiday Inn with many people from the community and representatives from various agencies throughout the area in attendance.

“This has been a long journey. I set a goal early on in life to be in this office. Sometimes the journey was rough but I made it,” Ware said.

Ware said he has received a lot of support from his family and children along the way.

“I’ve had support out of my daughter, my oldest son and my youngest son. There were a lot of things I did not get to do see because, I had to work hard to go to school to better myself and prepare myself so that when I reach this pinnacle I can do a good job. That I can do a job for the city and the community that would make everybody proud,” Ware said. “To my family and the sacrifices my kids made, thanks. This is as much about you as it is me.”

Ware said becoming chief does not change who he is or where he came from.

“It’s important you always remember your roots and you don’t forget where you came from,” Ware said. “There is a fraternity here that is unlike any that can be found in many professions. We don’t get rich in this job but we get enriched. I promise to you, that for however long I’m here, I will do the best I can.”

Ware said he always remembers the advice given to him as a child, ‘You put God first, put your country second, then you take care of your family, then you take care of yourself.’

“I hope that along with all of the other community leaders, we can continue to strive to move the community forward and make it a great place for all of our families to live,” Ware said.

Ware said one of his first acts as Chief of the Portsmouth Police Department was to write a letter to the Sandusky, Ohio Police Department and withdraw his name from consideration for their chief of police.

“There’s one order of business I need to take care of. As some of you know I applied for the Sandusky Police Chief job. I did that this past summer and I did it maybe, for some selfish reasons,” Ware said. “When I found out I passed the test and I was going to be the next chief here I discussed this with family and I prayed about. It was then I decided the first order of business I have to do as the Chief of the Portsmouth Police Department is write a letter to Sandusky to withdraw my name. I’m thankful for the opportunity, obviously they saw something in me that is worthy of potentially offering me a job, that’s humbling. I could have gone there and made a heck of a lot more money but, I think there is unfinished business here and I want to be a part of it.”

Ware’s many accomplishments include graduating with honors from Portsmouth High School in 1987 and Ohio University Southern in 2011 with an Associate degree in Law Enforcement Technology, earning the distinction as the top student in the LET program.

He is currently a senior at Ohio University majoring in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology. Ware is also a Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy, with 20 years of service. He served aboard the USS Newport during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and was deployed to Kuwait with expeditionary field forces during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 228, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.