WESTBROOK – Friends and former colleagues of Sgt. Allen Tundel, a retired police officer who served Westbrook for nearly four decades, are remembering him this week as a caring man and an outstanding officer.
Tundel, 69, died Aug. 15 after a short illness.
Tundel was a U.S. Air Force veteran who joined the Westbrook Police Department as a patrolman in 1969. He retired in 2008 after 39 years on the force, and according to a family obituary, received two letters of commendation during his career, one for his role in preventing a robbery at Rite Aid.
Mike Sanphy, a Westbrook city councilor and former Westbrook police sergeant, said Tuesday that he and Tundel worked together for 38 years, and shared an uncannily similar career path, appointed only one year apart, in 1968 and 1969, respectively. The two were also both appointed sergeants on the same date in 1984.
“We both eventually got daytime shifts working opposite each other except for one day each week,” Sanphy said. “Al and I were both patrol shift supervisors having our own teams. We both also shared the responsibility of vehicle maintenance of all department vehicles.”
The pair also retired from the force only a few months apart in 2008.
“Al was great to work with and was really a good person,” Sanphy said. “Al retired a few months before I did and I can truly say I missed working with him.”
Shawn Adams, the lead technician at Westbrook Public Safety, said Tuesday that Tundel “was a very caring and helpful individual.”
Adams, who as the city’s technician is charged with maintaining the police vehicle fleet, said Tundel assisted him with the job, making sure disabled vehicles were seen by Adams quickly and buying parts so that Adams could continue working to get vehicles back on the street sooner.
“(Tundel) cared very much about his job and all of the personnel that he worked with,” he said. “Sgt. Tundel wasn’t only concerned about you on a professional level, but a personal one, as well. The city of Westbrook lost a great police officer when he retired and for those that knew Sgt. Tundel, they have lost a great friend.”
Tundel, of Windham, was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and attended high school and two years of college in New Jersey before enlisting in the Air Force. He was discharged honorably in 1969.
At a Westbrook City Council meeting Monday, Mayor Colleen Hilton initiated a moment of silence in honor of Tundel.
On Friday, a statement on the Westbrook Police Department Facebook page said, “It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of retired Westbrook Police Sergeant Allen Tundel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Tundel family and his many friends.”
The post garnered a significant response online from current and former members of Westbrook Public Safety, as well as other community members.
Gary Littlefield, a former Westbrook fire chief, responded by saying, “While I was fire chief I got to know the sergeant very well. (He was) an extremely professional and personable human being.”
Ann Peoples, a longtime Westbrook state representative said, “Our sympathies to his family and friends. He is in our prayers.”
Visiting hours will be held at the Dolby Funeral Chapel, 434 River Road, Windham, on Wednesday, Aug. 20, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. A funeral service will be held at the First Lutheran Church, 132 Auburn St., Portland, on Thursday, Aug. 21, at 2 p.m.
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