Retired Schenectady Police Sergeant Ray Wemple passed away on Monday, April 5, 2021, in Rotterdam, New York, with his family at his side. He was 89. He was an APCO member since 1969 and enjoyed a long and varied career in public safety communications.
Wemple served in public safety communications in the Army including in the Korean War, and he joined the Schenectady Police Department in 1955. He served as a uniformed patrol officer walking foot posts and ringing call boxes as portable radios. He served in numerous positions, including as the communications and training officer for several years. He retired from the department in 1989.
Wemple served chiefs of police and the sheriff as their law enforcement mobile radio district coordinator until his death. He was an advocate of the development of a 700 or 800 MHz trunked radio system while serving in that capacity. He managed the installation of a new radio system, which replaced one that was 34 years old.
In 1990, he was named Schenectady County’s E-9-1-1 director. He developed a master street address guide and a method to number streets and also change post office box numbers to real street numbers so first responders could find the location quickly.
Wemple was an amateur radio service operator with the F.C.C, call sign KA2DVM. He enjoyed working stations throughout Europe and South America. He served as president of the Schenectady Amateur Radio Association. He received the Broughton Award from the club in 1993. He was also the chair of the Public Service Committee.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Schenectady Police Benevolent Association, P.O. Box 460, Schenectady, NY 12301.
Wemple’s complete obituary can be found here.
