Carroll Police Officer Tony Konkler has two timers counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until his retirement from the force becomes official on Monday, Feb. 29. At 65, and with over 43 years in law enforcement, nearly 28 of which have been spent with the Carroll department, he says he is ready to move into the next phase of a life that started with the pursuit of a career he soon realized wasn’t exactly what he was after. He originally went to school for welding and worked as a pipefitter and welder in the Navy from 1968 to 72. When he got out, he decided he wasn’t interested in doing that for the rest of his life, so he pursued another long-time interest in law enforcement.
Konkler was on the Red Oak force for eight years. He also worked as a deputy in Audubon County for five years and in Lenox for one before coming to Carroll. Konkler said that though he will not miss having to tell families that a loved one has passed away, he says he is happy to have been able to have some of the most memorable moments come from the relationships he has built and some of the pranks they have played with other officers on the force. And, these same things are what Carroll Police Chief Brad Burke says they will miss most when Konkler retires.
The most satisfying thing for him on a personal level has been the support and strength of his wife, who has stood behind him in all ways. In his professional life, he says he wants the younger officers to learn at least one thing from him and he wants the people of Carroll to know they will be what he misses most.
Konkler said after a little vacation and family time with his two children, two stepchildren and nine grandchildren, he will no doubt be looking for something to fill some of the extra hours with part-time work. He may even go back to his first career in welding, but he is pretty adamant that he no longer wants to worry about working nights, weekends or holidays. There will be a retirement open house for Officer Konkler on his last day, Monday, Feb. 29 from 3 to 4 p.m. in the lobby of Carroll City Hall. A new officer has been hired as a replacement and will officially join the force on March 1.
