Officer Patrick Rose of the Boston College Police Department has retired after 44 years as a patrolman. He started his career at Boston College during his junior year of college through Northeastern University’s co-op program, and worked under six different police chiefs.

In addition to his role as patrolman, Rose also worked for 35 years as an emergency medical technician on campus. One of the most memorable events of his career came in 1988, when he assisted with the delivery of a baby in the back seat of a car on Commonwealth Avenue.

“It was not the typical type of call I receive here,” Rose told the Boston College Biweekly at the time. “No more than 30 seconds after I got the equipment, the baby was born.”

Another unforgettable experience was when he helped rescue students from a 1977 fire in Cheverus Hall which sent a number of BCPD officers to the hospital. The fire started around 1 a.m. while Rose was working the night shift. The intensity of the fire melted doorknobs and caused around $150,000 in structural damage. Some students had to be relocated to a local hotel for the remainder of the semester and inform their professors that they lost notes and textbooks in the blaze.

 “Very few people here would remember that,” said Rose.

Rose said he will miss seeing the familiar faces on campus that he has come to know well throughout the years.

“I know virtually everyone,” said Rose. “I made it my mission to know everyone.”

Rose’s time at BC has been a family affair. His three daughters, Kimberly ’04, Lauren ’08, and Stephanie ’09 all graduated from Boston College and his wife, Karen, received a M.Ed. from the University in 1992.

“I couldn’t have done the job this long if I didn’t have a good wife to support me,” said Rose.

Although he and Karen will forego travel for the time being, Rose looks forward to spending time with his three grandchildren and his friends during his retirement.

One other thing he’ll relish: being able to sleep past 5:30 a.m., his customary wake-up time to get to campus for his 7 a.m. shift.
 

Christine Balquist | University Communications | July 2020