Michael Donald Bell

Michael grew up in southwest Ohio and attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL. It was in DeLand, FL that Michael and Kathy met in the emergency room of the West Volusia Hospital. He was working with Beacon Ambulance, the county wide ambulance company, as a EMT/Ambulance driver and Kathy worked as a control clerk in the emergency room.

After dating for a year, they married in 1975 and moved around several times before making Longmont their home in 1979.

Michael always had a strong desire to help people and serve the public which started at a very early age. For many years Michael held down a full time job and would volunteer after work every Friday to be part of the Longmont Police Reserves. He tested with the Wheat Ridge Police Department in hopes that would give him more experience of the hiring process, and was hired.

He spent several years with them, and when the Longmont Police Department had a hiring process he applied. He joined the Longmont Police Department on July 10th 1989. Michael served the City of Longmont for 28 years, first as a patrol officer, promotion to Sergeant, and then taking on the day to day operations of the Traffic Unit. Mike and the Traffic Unit were responsible

for investigating crashes, speed control, having a hand in being sure parades and road races went smoothly and almost everything else that had wheels and drove on the streets. He felt the importance of young people knowing what responsibility they had while being behind the wheel of a vehicle. The Responsible Adult Drivers (RAD) program was developed, along with several other citizens, and was implemented in the area high schools. Mike had an open door in his office to make time for officers' concerns and mentored them during their career. Those of you that knew Mike, know that this only scratches the surface of his career in Longmont and how many lives were touched, we will never know.

Michael and Kathy were fortunate enough to have cruised the world visiting many countries and islands. Mike liked to plan cruises for himself and friends alike being known as the "Cruise Cop" at work. He was the happiest when on a ship sailing to any destination with Kathy.

Michael is survived by Kathy, his sister Lori (Ron) Wright in Mobile, AL, brother Scott (Debbie) of Vero Beach, FL, and 3 nieces and 1 nephew.

There is no visitation planned at this time. Contributions can be sent to either Wounded Warriors, FOP Lodge #6 or Make-a-Wish.