Fricke, who turned 65-years-old in August, has been employed longer than anyone else on the City payroll — and not by a little bit. Commander Fricke came to work as a police patrolman on February 11, 1974; seven years ahead of the next senior employee who happens to be his boss, Chief of Police Loran Lueders.
Chief Lueders, who was not employed until November 1981, is also seven years ahead of the second senior City employee; his administrative coordinator, Donna Thomas. The remainder of the five longest tenured city employees, also employed in 1987, are Fire Chief JC Costeira (February) and Police Evidence and Records Coordinator, Diane Foreman (September).
To give you a historical point of reference, Fricke started patrolling the city streets just 19-days after Athalia Ponsell Lindsley was murdered on the front porch of her Marine Street home.
It is rare to find private companies that have been in business in St Augustine for 42 years, let alone any single employee who has committed their career to a single employer.
In addition to his duties at the Police Department, Fricke serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the St. Augustine Police Officers’ Retirement System.
From all of us at Historic City News, we say “Thank You” for your service to our community and dedication to fair and honest enforcement of our laws. Your integrity is second to none in city government, and your high ethical standards are an example to us all.