Remembering Henry H. Gerecke

September 19, 2016

Henry H. Gerecke served as chief of the Cape Girardeau Police Department from 1974-1981. Take a look back at his time as chief of police.

Southeat Missourian Archive

Henry Gerecke is seen on September 24, 1981, six days before retiring as chief from Cape Girardeau Police Department.

Chief Henry H. Gerecke traded his usual blue blazer for a T-shirt and green fatigues while moving books and other departmental papers into the new police headquarters at Sprigg and Merriwether Saturday from the old facility at 1 South Sprigg. Chief Gerecke said all heavy equipment and filing cabinets will be moved Monday. (Aug. 15, 1976)

Chief Henry H. Gerecke, right, chats with Edwin L. Williams, center, and an unidentified woman during the new officers induction ceremony on September 22, 1978.

Cape Girardeau Police Chief Henry H. Gerecke, pictured behind the desk, holds his final briefing before retiring Thursday, Sept. 30, 1981. From left to right are Lt. Michael B. Seib, Capt. Howard H. Boyd, Capt. Donald R. Roberts, Lt. L. Dale Ratliff and Lt. Robert F. Ross.

Cape Girardeau Police Chief Henry H. Gerecke, center, is seen with Cynthia M. Berger, left, and Charles D. Hale in this photo from Dec. 1, 1980.

Henry H. Gerecke gestures as he emphasizes a point during an interview in his office Thursday with a Missourian reporter. The new police chief completes his first year of duty Saturday. (Dec. 19, 1975)

Henry H. Gerecke is seen in an archive photo from Dec. 21, 1974.

Henry H. Gerecke is seen in an undated archive photo.

Cape Girardeau police chief Henry H. Gerecke is reminded of the grim facts from 1977. On a lettered poster on his office wall are the names of five persons who were slain in or near Cape Girardeau and whose deaths have gone unsolved. (Aug. 12, 1979)

Henry Gerecke is seen on the right on April 25, 1979, while serving as chief of the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

Cape Girardeau Police Chief Henry H. Gerecke, right, places the cornerstone into position in the new police headquarters building on January 2, 1976, with the help of Jerald Williams of Jackson, representing Bricklayers Local 23. The cornerstone contains current information on the police department.

Proficiency awards of high qualification firearms and high academic score were presented to Patrolman Kim E. Rhodes by Lt. Howard Boyd, right, during graduation ceremonies for six new patrolmen on April 7, 1979. Also on hand were the Rev. Louis Launhardt, city manager W.G. Lawley, Judge Stanley A. Grimm and chief of police Henry H. Gerecke, second from right.

Former chief of the Cape Girardeau Police Department, Henry Gerecke, is seen in an archive photo from April 25, 1979.

Police Chief Henry H. Gerecke, left, and Gene Huckstep, operator of a volunteer rescue service, rush to the Mississippi River at the Water-Themis floodgate as dragging operations begin late Thursday, June 27, 1975, for Gordon Y. Weakly, 53 years old. The Cape Girardeau man disappeared as he was swimming in the river.

Henry H. Gerecke is seen in a photo from July 27, 1979.

Melvin A. McMillen, left, holds remains of a cannonball he found in his garden, Cape Girardeau Police Chief Henry H. Gerecke holds two metal balls the cannonball contained, on July 30, 1976.

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Henry H. Gerecke served as chief of the Cape Girardeau Police Department from 1974-1981. Take a look back at his time as chief of police.

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