Sanders is seen instructing a Citizens Police Academy class in 2014. (WNG File Photo)
SOUTHWICK – Working in Southwick for almost 40 years, Kirk Sanders is a well-known face in the community. A full-time police officer in the Southwick Police Department since September 3, 1979, Sanders has had plenty of years to become friendly with many residents in town. When responding to a residence with the fire department, fire personnel will ask Sanders, “Don’t tell me you know them.”
While Sanders doesn’t lack social notoriety in Southwick, it took many different paths in order to evolve into that friendly face in the dark blue uniform. Born in 1955 in Garden City, Michigan, Sanders’ father took a job in Simsbury, Conn. in 1956 to work in the industrial field that was booming in the 1950’s.
Working Monday through Friday in Simsbury, Sanders’ father would leave work on Friday and make the 14-hour trek back to Garden City. It was a trip that he would do every single week in order to race back to his loved ones. Sanders’ dad would speed home, which would have great irony based on his son’s future profession.
“He got a whole bunch of citations speeding back and forth,” said Sanders. “He had a foot that could really scream pretty good.”
After Sanders and his family moved to the New England area to have the father closer to his job, the company he worked for went out of business. Sanders’ father chose being a brick layer and in 1974 Kirk followed and worked with his dad. That type of blue-collar work didn’t stop there, as Kirk worked in a tobacco field at 12-years-old and also at a greenhouse and a gas station.
“I saw a lot of what people do for a living,” said Sanders.
Seeking a different profession that he would love, Sanders found inspiration in his late grandfather. A cop in Garden City who would end up retiring as a Detective Sergeant, Sanders’ grandfather shared stories with Kirk about his experience as a police officer.
“He was a big influence, he used to share stories with me about different homicides he was involved in,” said Sanders. “The man was very polite, but very forward.”
The most important piece of advice that his grandfather gave him was what has stuck with him the most.
“The uniform doesn’t make you, you make yourself,” said Sanders.
Logging over 31 years on the midnight shift in Southwick as an acting Sergeant, Sanders would eventually be promoted to full-time Sergeant in 2003. In 2013, Sanders was promoted to Sergeant on the day shift.
During his time at the Southwick Police Department, Sanders has been a safety officer, a community officer, and worked with different town departments as well as senior citizens at the Council on Aging Center.
“Working with people who are competent and know what they’re doing has made my job a lot easier,” said Sanders. “I love it, I love the things I do.”
It doesn’t stop there when working in the community as Sanders has been a part of the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program since 1990, going into all of the schools in the Southwick school system and educating them about drugs and alcohol. A major passion of his has been the Citizens Police Academy, a 10-week program that the Southwick officer has been leading for more than 12 years. The program allows people in the community to get an inside look of what it’s like to be a police officer.
“The Citizens Police Academy is my baby, it’s a homerun,” said Sanders. “Whoever take this over, they’re going to have a lot of work, I take a lot of pride in it.”
Outside of his occupation, Sanders has been the President of the Park and Recreation Center since 2007, and also a member of BOSS (Boost Our Southwick Schools), where he sells raffle tickets and refreshments at basketball and soccer games.
Throughout his 40 years as a police officer in town engaging with the community, some of Sanders’ best memories have been ones that weren’t always the most positive.
Young into his career, Sanders responded to a domestic dispute at a home where a man had his wife and her friend hostage with a kitchen knife. Right away, Sanders recognized the man. Sanders had not too long ago worked at the Oak n’ Keg package store on his off days as a cop and would regularly have this guy as a customer.
Although there were officers outside the home with guns drawn at the window, Sanders was able to get the individual to surrender his knife and the two women were safe.
“I got him by talking with him because he trusted me, that was a nice accomplishment,” said Sanders. “Some people don’t want to hear it, you try to be honest with them, I don’t hide the fact, I tell them like it is.”
More recently, just weeks after Sanders’ wife Susan passed away in February of 2018, he went back to work and responded to a call of an unresponsive female. Upon arrival, the husband had been doing CPR until EMT’s rushed to the scene.
Sanders is seen assisting with a robbery investigation at the Pride Station on 198 College Highway in 2013. (WNG File Photo)
In a flurry of emotions, Sanders attempted to calm the husband down by pulling him aside and speaking with him, but the man didn’t believe Sanders would understand his feelings.
“You don’t know what I’m going through,” said the guy. “That was tough, I told him, “Yeah I do, I lost my wife three weeks ago,”” said Sanders.
Unfortunately, the wife didn’t end up surviving from the incident, Sanders recalls the husband approaching him weeks after.
“He was so sorry, apologetic,” said Sanders. “He was so appreciative of what I did for him.”
After all these years of commitment to his community on and off the job, Sanders’ hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Russ Fox, a Select Board member in town who was Sanders’ best man at his wedding, explained the impact Sanders has had on the police department and Southwick.
“He is the face of the Southwick Police Department to a great number of people,” said Fox. “When you mention the department, the first name that comes up from many people is Sgt. Kirk Sanders.”
Sanders’ former boss, David Ricardi has seen the type of passion and effort Sanders has put in over the years.
“He’s probably one of the most devoted police officers that I know in all of my 30 years at the Southwick Police Department,” said Ricardi.
Uncertain of when he’ll retire, Sanders is confident that when he does hang up his uniform and badge, he’ll be satisfied with the mark that he’s left on the community that he proudly serves.
“I’m pleased with my career,” said Sanders. “If my grandfather were alive, he would have loved what I’ve done.”
