Covering the Land of Lincoln

Sam Gaynor was one of Rockford’s first Black police officers

A 62-year-old keepsake belonging to Rodney Gaynor is a newspaper picture of his father, Sam Gaynor, leading Pilgrim Baptist Church members from Morgan and West streets to the church’s current home at 1703 S. Central Ave.

The picture captures Sam Gaynor, a police officer in the prime of his life, excited to be a part of the church’s history.

Gaynor was a trailblazer that day, as he was in his life — the second Black police officer to be hired by the Rockford Police Department. Over the course of his 35-year career, Gaynor would be the department’s first Black officer to be promoted to sergeant, lieutenant, captain and eventually deputy chief.

Samuel “Sonny” Gaynor died Dec. 4. Hey what 89.

“If his tombstone says no more than ‘Here lies a good man.’ It would be accurate,” said Gaynor’s eldest son, Rodney.

More:Former Rockford schools, museum leader ‘Downtown’ Alan Brown dies

Education was first love

Sam Gaynor was born and raised on the city’s southwest side where he attended school and became a member of Pilgrim Baptist Church. He graduated from West High School in 1950 and from Fayetteville State Teacher’s College, (now Fayetteville State University), in 1954 with a degree in education.

After a two-year stint in the US Army, Gaynor taught briefly in North Carolina before returning to Rockford in 1957 with intentions of continuing his career in education.

Rodney Gaynor, 63 of Champaign, said his father may have been ready for Rockford Public Schools, but Rockford Public Schools was not ready for its first black male teacher. Instead, he responded to an ad in the newspaper seeking police officers. He applied and was sworn in on June 2, 1958.

“His first assignment was walking the beat,” Gaynor said, “but the assignment that I really remember was when he was driving the white car, performing EMT services.”

The white station wagon, a prelude to today’s ambulances, was equipped with basic medical supplies.

“He delivered babies, and he was there when people were catching their last breath,” Rodney Gaynor said.

Fondest memory

Gaynor’s early tenure with the police department was during the height of the turbulent Civil Rights Movement. Rodney Gaynor said he doesn’t know what his father endured in the streets and possibly among the rank and file.

“He didn’t bring the job home,” he said.

What Rodney Gaynor does remember is his father always being in uniform and on call.

“When I was in Little League, I fancied myself as a pitcher, and he would be in uniform and would squat while I practiced pitching,” he said

One of Gaynor’s fondest memories is traveling with his father to Milwaukee County Stadium in 1981 and joining other off-duty officers at a Brewers-Yankees game.

“I remember being excited because Dave Winfield and Reggie Jackson were on the Yankees and my dad served me a beer.

“I was of age, and it was just nice being with dad and with his co-workers.”

Sam Gaynor

‘a man of faith’

When Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd met Sam Gaynor she was a child and knew him as Deacon Gaynor.

“He was always at the church doing something,” she said, “and his wife used to do my hair when I was a little girl.”

Redd, the first Black and first female to lead the city’s police department in 2021, was one of many friends and family to visit Gaynor before he died.

“You could tell he was loved,” she said. “He was a man of faith. He didn’t believe in throwing people away.”

Retired Rockford Deputy Chief Dominic Iasparro remembered Gaynor as an engaged leader.

“As a sergeant, he never missed a roll call,” Iasparro said. “And he would get in the middle of things. He wasn’t one just to stand back and watch everything. He would actively get involved in scenes.”

When Gaynor was promoted to deputy chief of operations in 1990, Iasparro was promoted to assistant deputy chief and the two worked closely until Gaynor’s retirement in 1993.

“He was a wonderful man,” Iasparro said. “He was the type of person who just demanded respect by his presence without it even being said. You knew what the expectations were, and you respected him for his position and for his moral character.”

‘I stand on his shoulders’

Theo Glover said Gaynor was a stickler for officers to wear their hats with their uniforms.

“Everybody has their pet peeves, and that was his,” Glover said.

When Glover became the second Black to be promoted to deputy chief, Gaynor was long retired but not forgotten.

“When I was placed in charge of security for On the Waterfront, (the city’s annual downtown street festival), I insisted that the officers at a certain time had to have their hats on as a tribute to Sam.”

Glover, who now heads the Rockford Park District Police Department, said of Gaynor, “He paved the way for me. I stand on his shoulders.”

Visitation and services

After retirement, Gaynor finally fulfilled his love of teaching. He served for several years as a substitute teacher in Rockford Public Schools hoping to make a positive impression on the city’s young Black youth.

Rodney Gaynor said he’ll always be proud of his father’s career, but he’s even more proud of the life his father lived.

“I never heard him use swear words. He did not speak ill of people, even when some may have deserved it. It just wasn’t his thing.”

Visitation for Sam Gaynor will be held at 9 am followed by services at 11 am Friday at Pilgrim Baptist Church, 1703 S. Central Ave., and burial at Greenwood Cemetery.

Chris Green: 815-987-1241; [email protected]; @chrisfgreen

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