Voluntary Action Center honors Ed Roman

By Kipp Hanley

Published: May 20, 2008

Long-time Prince William County Police Department volunteer Ed Roman said the most rewarding thing about what he does is that it helps keep an extra police officer on the street.

"Try about 10," laughed Sgt. Michael Blake, who has worked with Roman for the last three years at the Gar-Field substation in Woodbridge.

The 78-year-old Roman has worked as a volunteer for the last 9 1/2 years, doing everything from keeping inventory to getting police vehicles detailed.

"He totally supports police operations on the east end of the county," Blake said. "He does a myriad of administrative work and keeps the officers and myself free to do other things."

On Monday night, the Voluntary Action Center held its annual Volunteer Recognition Event at the Loy E. Harris Pavilion.

With 10,000 hours served—that's an average of nearly 3 hours a day, 365 days a year for nearly 10 years—Roman was unknowingly the guest of honor among the 574 individuals recognized that night.

Roman's technical expertise and casual demeanor made him a perfect fit at the police department. The Pennsylvania native joined the military on his 16th birthday and became a communication specialist in the U.S. Army during the Korean and Vietnam wars. He eventually met his wife Mitzi in South America and has been married for nearly 50 years.

Roman jokingly blamed Mitzi for his volunteering stint at the police department. One day, Mitzi read a newspaper article that mentioned the Senior Citizens Police Academy.

Roman went to the station to see what it was all about and was instantly hooked.

"Lieutenant Casey said 'see if you can find anything for him to do' and I thought 'my ideal job, they have to find something for me to do,' " Roman said.

Created in 1981 and based in Manassas, the Voluntary Action Center is a unique referral service connecting volunteers with Prince William County's diverse non-profit community.

Along with the individual recognition Monday, the Voluntary Action Center handed out 11 Community Spirit Awards to various local business partners.