As a young man, Willie Roundtree said he knew in his heart that he “didn’t want to be the guy who went back to the safety and security of his hometown.”
So it was that the African-American from Jacksonville, Fla., put himself — willingly — into positions that would cause many a man to question his decision, if not his sanity.
There was the military training in Montana and the tour of duty in Vietnam. The application for a career in the Denver Police Department at a time when any officers, let alone black ones, were often looked at askance. The move to the Metro SWAT team, where, as just one of three blacks to serve in almost 45 years, Roundtree put himself in situations that were anything but safe and secure.
“He probably went through over 2,000 doors on search warrants where he didn’t know what was on the other side,” said Lt. Patrick Phelan. “He probably stood at 400-500 barricades.”
But, Phelan said Friday at a ceremony marking Roundtree’s retirement from the force, the most impressive thing about his co-worker was the fact that he showed up every day.
“He’s gotten the Medal of Honor and the Medal of Valor, but he showed his dedication by never complaining about what he had to do,” said Phelan, who graduated with Roundtree from the police academy in 1980. “Whether he was on a perimeter, or in a sniper hide or standing in a hallway for eight hours, he never complained — he was the ultimate SWAT team member.”
Which is perhaps why so many officers from around the city, including new Police Chief Robert White, turned out to pay tribute. As each person spoke, a photo montage flashed in the background, showing shots, not only of Roundtree in action, but also with luminaries ranging from President Barack Obama to the Dalai Lama.
But rather than the perilous situations, or the opportunity to hobnob with the powerful, Roundtree said he derived the most satisfaction from simply serving a community that, for 32 years, was his home away from home, with men and women who became his family.
“I just wanted to prove myself worthy; it was huge for me to make an impression,” Roundtree said. “It wasn’t just about being black or being a black policeman — it was just about being a good police officer.”
There were, of course, times when that was easier said than done.
For the first eight years of his career, Roundtree said he worked to “establish myself as a competent police officer,” spending part of that time on the security detail of then-Mayor Federico Peña.
In 1988 he took a leap of faith and applied for a spot on the Metro SWAT team, where there were intense pressures, both internally and externally.
” It wasn’t easy. There were a lot of emotional and psychological issues to deal with,” Roundtree said. “And there were times when I was a young officer that I had questions, but as time went on I resolved them.
“I took the perspective that it is what it is, and it wasn’t about me anyway, it wasn’t about the politics. What was important to me was being a good representative for the Department, for the Unit. And, while it may sound melodramatic, I really just wanted to work with and help people.”
Roundtree said it was crucial for him to present a positive image to the community. And while there are a great many people who never knew him, his co-workers say he more than accomplished that mission.
“These guys, they do their jobs and when they leave the room no one remembers them,” said Division Chief David Quinones. “But Willie, to do this job for as long as he did, he will be missed.”
Anthony Cotton: 303-954-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com
