“Here comes Fuzzy,” is something Sgt. Mike Waldrop often heard from members of facility management when he made his rounds through campus buildings.

Waldrop, 40, will leave his nickname at Western when he retires today after 17 years with campus police.

Waldrop’s uncle, Gary Raymer, was chief of police in Bowling Green and his grandfather, Everett Tabor, worked as a Western campus officer from 1971 to 1982.

Waldrop started at Western in 1991 after serving four years as a military police officer in the Army.

He began as a campus patrol officer but has served as a shift commander for the past 10 years.

Officer John Bailey, who has known Waldrop for more than two years, said Waldrop was a fine officer and great leader.

Job satisfaction for Waldrop came from serving Western.

For the past seven years, he worked as a mentor with the football and basketball teams.

He talked to them about proper conduct and personal responsibility off the field.

One of his proudest moments came in 2002 when then-football coach Jack Harbaugh presented him with the same national championship ring that the players received.

Waldrop was a frequent sight on the sidelines and served as last year’s honorary captain at the Western-Eastern game.

Waldrop was named Officer of the Year in 1996 and received a Life Saving award in 2007 for helping to revive a student who collapsed in the Preston Center.

The student, unconscious and not breathing when Waldrop arrived with lifesaving equipment, began to breathe after Waldrop shocked him three times with an automatic defibrillator, Waldrop said.

Waldrop said he enjoyed putting on the Western police uniform and he will miss working with the officers in the department and the students.

“I always tried to be professional with students and help them when I could,” he said.

Even though he’s retiring his badge with campus police, he’ll be pinning on another one next month when he starts as a deputy with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.

“I have fulfilled my commitment to Western, and I’m starting a new chapter in my law enforcement career,” he said.

Officer Mike Miciotto, assistant shift commander, said that Waldrop was the most level-headed sergeant the department had.

“He cared about the mission, but he cared more about the officers,” Miciotto said.

A public reception will be given in Waldrop’s honor May 9 at 12:30 p.m. in RedZone.

“I know I’m leaving one of the most professional police departments in the state and I know I’ve left it in good hands,” Waldrop said.

Reach Larry Rowell at news@chherald.com.