Bolick retires after 33 years as Wayne County deputy

If there was one deputy Wayne County Sheriff Travis Hutchinson could always count on to get the job done, it was Richard “Rick” Bolick.

“We had many long days and very short nights,” Hutchinson said. “There aren’t many deputies like him, and it’s been a pleasure working with him. I hope those who had the opportunity to work with him over the years were taking notes. He came to work and did his job; he was very dedicated to the sheriff’s office. When problems would arise, he was always there to help. He is one of a kind, and I wish him well in retirement. He deserves it. It will be challenging to replace him.”

Describing him as a model deputy, Hutchinson said Bolick always had a smile on his face and boosted morale when the office needed it. “Whether it was staffing shortages or extended shifts at the Wayne County Fair, he could always be depended on,” Hutchinson said.

Since joining the office in 1991, Bolick has prioritized his job and performed whatever duty was asked of him. In 2001 he was asked to transfer from the corrections division into law enforcement, where he spent the next two years before returning to corrections in 2003. Bolick also accepted assignments providing security for the Common Pleas Court and assisting with transportation, and he was on the cell extraction team, earning him several commendations for his versatility.

“I have enjoyed my career with the sheriff’s office. That is strange to say because of some of the things we get into, but I will miss my fellow black shirts and the rest of the people in the office,” Bolick said. “Working with everyone has been a privilege and an honor.”

Bolick said he wanted to pursue a career as a firefighter, but when the opportunity arose to go into law enforcement, he jumped at the chance.

“I am a people person,” he said. “So this career was right in my wheelhouse.”

Dan Starcher is the public communications coordinator for Wayne County.