Chief Scott P. Livingstone announced the retirement of Patrol Officer David A. Rhoades after 23 years of exceptional service to the police department and the Town of Amherst. Officer Rhoades was appointed as a patrol officer with the Amherst Police Department on July 1, 1993. Prior to becoming an officer in Amherst, he was a patrol officer for the New Iberia, Louisiana Police Department.
Officer Rhoades received his associate’s degree from Houghton College in 1991 and graduated from the State of Louisiana Basic Training Course For Law Enforcement Officers in 1991 after successfully completing the training program.
During his tenure, Patrol Officer Rhoades was a member of the departments mounted patrol. He was also the police department’s liaison to the Amherst Seniors and Law Enforcement Together Council (SALT) which strives to identify methods that will protect the physical and financial well-being of Amherst elders.
In 2011, Officer Rhoades was issued a Letter of Appreciation from the Amherst Police Department for developing the department’s Peer Support Program. The program provides resources for police officers and their families to address emotional and physical stressors that are part of being in the law enforcement profession. Officer Rhoades was a team leader of the Peer Support Team and his program has been used as a model for other law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts.
Officer Rhoades was awarded a Letter of Commendation from the department in December 2007 for his courage, lifesaving aid and professionalism in response to the Emerson Court Gas Explosion on August 16, 2006. In December 2010, Officer Rhoades waded into the icy Mill River and rescued an 83-year-old man who had lost control of his vehicle and plunged into the river. In addition, he has been the recipient of many of letters of praise and appreciation from community members.
Officer Rhoades currently resides in Belchertown with his wife Emily.