7QUESTIONS+PLUS

Ron Bailey, the president of Kenosha’s Police and Fire Commission, which is tapped with picking the city’s next police chief. Bailey, who retired in June after spending 25 years in the halls of Tremper High School, says that if he could travel anywhere in the world, it would be St. Petersburg, Russia.That’s pretty far from Piggott, Ark., where he grew up, and just as far from Crivitz, Wis., where he loves to enjoy the beauty of the north woods.

Ron Bailey will now take your questions:

Tell us briefly about yourself: I was born in Piggott, Ark., which is 11 eleven miles from picturesque Chalk Bluff in northeast Arkansas and is home to the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum. Earnest Hemingway’s second wife was from Piggott. He wrote from a converted barn while there. Our family moved to and from Kenosha a few times before we settled here in the early 1950s. I attended school at Sheridan Road Elementary, Frank Elementary, Lincoln Junior High School, and the split shifts of

Kenosha High School, then graduated from Tremper High School.

After high school I went on vacation with my Uncle Sam for three

years with the U.S. Army. He had me visit Kentucky, Alabama, Florida and Korea. Upon my return I attended the Racine-Kenosha County Teacher's College and then the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. I returned to Kenosha and started teaching at McKinley Junior High School, then spent my last 25 years at Tremper High School. I retired from Tremper in June.

I’ve been married to Sheila since 1978, and we have a great daughter, Meghan. You ask how I know she is outstanding, she has put up with me for all of this time. She must be outstanding.

From the time I attended Lincoln Junior High School, I have always been involved as a volunteer with groups, scouts, church, union, PTA, school clubs, MS Society of Kenosha County and the city to name a few.

How has your teaching experience helped you on the Police & Fire Commission? Teaching is managing a group of people, and sharing information that you want then to acquire. Being a member of the Police and Fire Commission is much the same thing. We evaluate potential candidates to determine if we think that they will become a good asset for the community. We approve the hiring of new police and firefighter officers. We are sometimes required to have a hearing that is somewhat like a trial, where we sit in judgment of the evidence presented to us in dealing with police officers as well as firefighters. This is much as we do in the teaching profession when we evaluate work and the student’s efforts.

How did you get involved with the Police & Fire Commission? What qualifies you to help make important decisions about police and fire safety? I served about nine years on Kenosha’s Civil Service Commission, my first appointment as a Commissioner was when another commissioner was transferred by his employer to another city and he had to resign from the commission, and the Mayor was looking for a labor/union person. I was suggested by the Kenosha Teacher Union, interviewed, then selected and approved by the city council. The city personnel director at the time was Chuck Grapentine, and he placed my name on a future list for future community groups. They had a couple of openings at about the same time and I was asked to consider this commission and agreed ... I don’t think that we make decisions about police and fire safety. That is what we hire our Chiefs to do.

Why are Police & Fire Commissions at 8 a.m. on Tuesdays and not at night when more of the public could attend? The original by-laws called for Commission meetings to be at 7 p.m. on Friday nights. It was difficult to get into a locked building at that time on Fridays and people, news reporters and commissioners stopped attending those meetings. So a few years ago we updated our by-laws and moved our meetings to the third Tuesday of the month at 8 a.m. People that have an interest and concern about what is on the agenda appear before us. When we have a regular agenda usually only one person attends, John.

Are you any relation to Beetle? How many times in your life have you been asked that question? Beetle is my brother; he is attempting to complete his tour of duty with the Army along with our cousin Bill. Bill seems to get less notice today, but we are very proud of both and their dedication to the country. We are very proud of all of our men and women that are serving our county! It's funny this is the very first time I have ever been asked about these family members.

Have you, or anyone you’re close to, ever been rescued by a police officer or firefighter? My wife has some medical conditions that require the services of our EMTs. They do an outstanding job, and I’m always proud of them. I also once required their service. While attending a parent conference, I became sick to my stomach, was turning gray, and sweating. One of my fellow teachers is an EMT, not with the city, and was providing me with first aid. The fire department was called and they provided me with medical treatment and gave me a ride in the rescue squad to the hospital. I learned that I have an allergy to odors. Yes, the ride in the rescue squad was very bumpy.

Do you get any kind of free pass when you get pulled over for speeding? I don’t know. I do know that the police chief warned us that we would not receive a get out of jail card or a free pass on tickets. This has made me more aware of my speed and driving habits as well as those of others. I drive slower so that I don’t have to find out and see my picture and name in the paper saying “The president of the Police and Fire Commission ticketed for speeding.” I admire the officer’s ability to deal with accident sites and continue to do their jobs. It scares me to death to watch the drivers in Kenosha that do not stop at lights and stop signs.

What is the single most important attribute for a chief of police? The most important attribute for a chief is her or his ability to communicate with the public and the officers that work under that chief’s leadership. They must also be able to work with members from other departments and agencies.

What are the biggest challenges that come with helping to select a new police or fire chief? I feel that the community’s needs of the respective department are of vital importance. The Chief needs to be knowledgeable of the community and projections of what changes are going to effect their departments. With the city expanding to the west and the new high-rise buildings we face some new needs and changes that will require our Chiefs to be visionary.

With a number of internal candidates, are you worried about dissension and divisiveness since only one can get the job? No, I believe that they are all good cops. They are aware that only one will be selected and they have gone through the ranks and may or may not have been the one promoted to the next level. This will be something that they have experienced before, and they all still work together really well. We have six really great candidates!

Who is your favorite TV cop? I find it hard to decide. I enjoy “Colombo,” “Monk,” and Lenny from “Law and Order.”

What do you do to unwind? Answer 47 questions for the "7 Questions With" article ... What I do to unwind is to go up to Crivitz, (note: I did not just say “go up north.”) We have a little cottage close to Popps Resort by High Falls Reservoir outside of Crivitz. Life is at a slower pace there, the neighbors stop and visit. They offer to assist when you’re working and are just outstanding people.

I enjoy the wildlife that we have around us. We get all the normal wildlife of a wooded area: deer, black bear with cubs, eagles, turkeys, rabbits. It is nice to sit back and share their space. It is also fun attempting to catch that big trophy fish that lives in the nearby waters. The sunsets on the bay are beautiful and relaxing.

If you could swap places with anyone for one day, whom would you choose and why? That old, gray-haired gentleman sitting down by the river with his fishing pole stuck in the dirt and his bobber floating in the water being bounced while he sleeps in the sun. Other than that, a day is too short of a time period to make any changes in the way things are.

What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you? I think that people would be surprised to know that I enjoy working out at the Rec Plex and doing odd jobs, and that I have opinions about things and that I share those opinions with others.

If money was no object, what hobby would you like to try? If money was no object I think that I would enjoy collecting old cars. I’m currently assisting a friend work on a '68 Mustang for his son and it is enjoyable to get my hands dirty and see something come to completion.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? Well, can we tell them that the News has offered to provide me with an 80-day trip around the world, fully paid and that you will be there with the photo person to record that story for answering these questions? I think it would be fun to get back to some of the places that I visited in the Far East, I would enjoy visiting Korea and Japan again. My true passion would be to travel to St. Petersburg, Russia. I have always thought that the architecture would be breath taking.

What is the theme song for the movie that is being made about your life? What! They are making a movie of my life! Do they make talkies yet, or will the just use the piano player? A theme song, it would be the music from “All My Children,” for all the special children I have had the wonderful opportunity to work with over the years.

If your house started on fire, what one (non-living) item would you take with you on your way out the door? If my house started on fire, after getting my family and pets out of the house, I would grab a wireless phone to call 911 for help! Non-living things are just things, they can be replaced.

A filet mignon and merlot, or bratwurst and beer? I would have to say the steak medium rare with the red wine would be my favorite.

What’s your favorite restaurant in Kenosha? I enjoy many but my favorite would have to be Twisted Cuisine, they have wonderful offerings and change their menu about every three months. Great job, Mike and Rhonda!

What is the most enlightening piece of advice ever given to you? Be willing to listen to other people, hear what they are saying and feeling.