August 30, 2007

Police mourn beloved sergeant
Glenn Deveney, 64, dies after a long battle with cancer.
By BARBARA GIASONE STAFF WRITER

The police and City Hall communities today are mourning the death of retired Sgt. Glenn Deveney, who died Friday after a long battle with cancer. He was 64.

Deveney retired 10 years ago after 32 years with the Police Department, where he worked every detail.

Affectionately called “Sgt. Motor Mouth” by his co-workers, Deveney was an imposing figure at more than 6 feet tall with white hair. He loved nothing more than stopping on the street or in the office to greet and chat.

“If he met you on the sidewalk, the conversation would be interrupted continually by passersby shouting ‘Hi Dev’ or ‘Hi Sarge,’” city spokeswoman Sylvia Palmer-Mudrick said. “He was just that kind of guy who loved everyone and everyone loved him.”

Police Chief Pat McKinley said even after Deveney retired, he stayed on as a “fixture,” keeping in touch with all the retired police officers.

Fullerton was Deveney’s town.

He went through the school system, graduating from Fullerton Union High School, Fullerton College, Cal State Fullerton – and then returning to the college campuses to teach criminal justice.

When he was discharged from the Marine Corps, he applied to the police department. Chief Wayne Bornhoft told Deveney to return in a year.

The proud Marine followed orders and launched a career that took him from patrol to administrative positions.
“He was strong-willed, and an incredible patriot,” McKinley said.

Deveney told friends that when he retired, he wanted his legacy to be: “Tall guy with white hair, talked a lot and always treated us fairly.”

He is survived by his wife, Flo, and daughters Kelly, a dispatcher at FPD, and Kerri, who works at the Anaheim Police Department; two brothers and four sisters.

Graveside services will be held at 9:30 this morning at Loma Vista Memorial Park, 701 E. Bastanchury Road. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Glenn Deveney Memorial Fund at Fullerton Community Bank, 200 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, for dispersal to Deveney’s favorite charities.