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For nearly 21 years, Master Patrol Officer Frank Kratzer has been serving the citizens of El Dorado as an officer with the El Dorado Police Department.
He has decided to retire, and this is his last week with the department.
There will be a public reception in his honor held Thursday in the City Commission meeting room at City Hall from 2 to 4 p.m.
After working as a reserve firefighter for 11 years, Katzer was laid off in 1990. He subsequently became a member of El Dorado’s public safety department.
“It seemed natural to come here,” he said. “When I was hired we were public safety, so you worked police and fire.”
A year later, after attending mandatory police training, Kratzer was given the choice of working in either fire or police full time.
Kratzer figured police work suited him better, so he stayed with the police department.
“I’ve been here ever since,” he said.
Katzer, who has lived in El Dorado since he was 5 years old, has been the School Resource Officer at El Dorado Middle School for the past two years.
“In 2008, I was assigned as SRO and DARE instruction at EMS,” he said. “This was the perfect job for me to be doing.”
Kratzer says he is a people person and enjoys interacting with young people.
However, at the beginning of this school year, the budget was cut causing his position to be eliminated.
This meant he was left with the option to either go back out on the streets or retire.
Although he enjoys police work, his age and health helped him decide to retire.
During his years with the El Dorado Police Department, Kratzer has enjoyed interaction with members of the community in a positive way.
“In 2003 I was appointed as a community resource officer,” he said, which meant he was coordinator of events that involved the public and the police department.
He held this position from 2003 to 2008.
Kratzer’s wife, Kay, appreciates the way her husband does his job and wanted to mention that he was voted El Dorado’s favorite police officer in 2009.
“I’ve enjoyed working with the public,” he said. “I’ve also enjoyed working with all the officers.”
After his retirement from the police department, Kratzer plans to work full time for Kirby Morris Funeral Home.
For nearly 21 years, Master Patrol Officer Frank Kratzer has been serving the citizens of El Dorado as an officer with the El Dorado Police Department.
He has decided to retire, and this is his last week with the department.
There will be a public reception in his honor held Thursday in the City Commission meeting room at City Hall from 2 to 4 p.m.
After working as a reserve firefighter for 11 years, Katzer was laid off in 1990. He subsequently became a member of El Dorado’s public safety department.
“It seemed natural to come here,” he said. “When I was hired we were public safety, so you worked police and fire.”
A year later, after attending mandatory police training, Kratzer was given the choice of working in either fire or police full time.
Kratzer figured police work suited him better, so he stayed with the police department.
“I’ve been here ever since,” he said.
Katzer, who has lived in El Dorado since he was 5 years old, has been the School Resource Officer at El Dorado Middle School for the past two years.
“In 2008, I was assigned as SRO and DARE instruction at EMS,” he said. “This was the perfect job for me to be doing.”
Kratzer says he is a people person and enjoys interacting with young people.
However, at the beginning of this school year, the budget was cut causing his position to be eliminated.
This meant he was left with the option to either go back out on the streets or retire.
Although he enjoys police work, his age and health helped him decide to retire.
During his years with the El Dorado Police Department, Kratzer has enjoyed interaction with members of the community in a positive way.
“In 2003 I was appointed as a community resource officer,” he said, which meant he was coordinator of events that involved the public and the police department.
He held this position from 2003 to 2008.
Kratzer’s wife, Kay, appreciates the way her husband does his job and wanted to mention that he was voted El Dorado’s favorite police officer in 2009.
“I’ve enjoyed working with the public,” he said. “I’ve also enjoyed working with all the officers.”
After his retirement from the police department, Kratzer plans to work full time for Kirby Morris Funeral Home.
