Longtime judicial commissioner Wally McClarren resigned and the county recognized him for his service at the County Commission meeting Monday night.
McClarren was presented a certificate of retirement Monday night by judicial commissioner David Williams. Williams spoke a few words about McClarren before presenting it to him.
McClarren is originally from Michigan. He was later hired on at the Detroit Police Department where he was a patrolman and worked several special units and did security detail for the city.
“While working for the Detroit Police Department, Wally was able to finish his degree in education at Walter State. After four years with the Detroit City Police, Wally moved to Clearwater, Fla. where he worked for 10 years as a detective, also working with arson investigation of the bomb squad. While he was an instructor at the police academy in those fields,” said Williams.
While working in Florida, McClarren worked the Colombo family kidnapping and arson investigation and one of the largest drug busts on the Florida West Coast at the time. McClarren met his future wife while working a case involving a bank.
“In 1983, while working a case involving a Florida bank, Wally first met the future love of his life. Pat had been able to supply Wally with information to help solve the case. Wally told Pat because she had helped him he would take her out for lunch. Well, about three weeks went by and Wally hadn’t called Pat so one of her coworkers encouraged Pat to give him a call to remind him that he needed to take her out for lunch,” explained Williams.
When she called him, he did not answer and she was initially embarrassed, but McClarren called her back immediately.
“Wally called her back and said, ‘is there any time better than now?’ Wally’s coworker asked who he was talking to and he said, ‘that fox at the bank.” Wally and Pat both felt instant attraction when they met. Wally and Pat married in 1985 and soon moved to Warren County,” said Williams.
McClarren worked for an insurance company before being hired as a judicial commissioner.
“In 2012, Warren County was in need of a judicial commissioner and thankfully Wally’s friend at the Tire Mart told him about the opening and Wally got the job in January of 2013. With Wally’s past experience, he offered and aided the young officers when preparing their cases. Wally was a valuable commissioner and I’d like to introduce you to Wally not only as my coworker, but as my friend,” said Williams. “We wish we could keep you on forever.”
“I spent probably 40 or 50 years in the criminal justice system and I am going to miss the guys and gals. You need to know you have a great sheriff’s department here and the city police department and the troopers. We’re very blessed with top-notch people and it was an honor to work with each and every one of them,” said McClarren.
