Updated 3/12 with arrangements and 3/13 with official obituary. SYRACUSE -- Rod Carr, a former radio and television broadcaster who later changed careers into law enforcement, has passed away. Carr, who was actively serving as the Chief of Police in the Oswego County Village of Phoenix, died this morning of an apparent heart attack.
Syracuse ABC affiliate NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV) reported Carr's death on its website, 9WSYR.com this morning. The television station says they learned of the news from New York State Police Captain Jeff Raub. The station says Carr also served as a spokesperson for the Syracuse Police Department, prior to taking the Chief's post in Phoenix.
The Syracuse Post-Standard says Carr was 64 years old, and would have turned 65 in about two weeks. Carr worked his normal shift until 4:00pm yesterday, and returned to work later last night to help one of his officers with an investigation. Colleagues say they didn't notice anything abnormal about Carr when he left the police station at 11:30pm.
According to the paper, Carr joined Channel 9 (then WNYS-TV) in 1969. From 1971 until 1993, Carr worked for the Syracuse Police Department. After retiring from SPD, Carr had a few "stints as a talk show host" on local airwaves, before returning to law enforcement in Chittenango, and then later in Phoenix. He was a special guest when former co-host Gary Nolan returned to Syracuse and debuted his current show on 105.9 The Big Talker (WXTL) just a little more than a year ago.
According to the Syracuse Post-Standard, funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 19 at 1:00pm at the Word of Life Assembly of God, 12 E. Oneida St., Baldwinsville. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations in Carr's name to Concerns of Police Survivors.
Rod Carr was a great guy!! I was very shocked and saddened this morning when I heard the news. My prayers and thought are with his family. I remember seeing him at Wegman's once driving around on those skootercarts they have (his legs weren't doing well then)..I said hey slow down you're gonna get a ticket..he looked at me and smiled and said... "I don't think so I know someone on the force..." My wife and I laughed...and away he zoomed....RIP Rod. :(
If you're interested in Bill Colley's thoughts about Rod's passing, you can read about them here: http://www.wgmd.com/?p=19655
Rod filled in for Bill once in a while, when Bill was doing mornings at WFBL during their first incarnation as a talker.
And of course he helped Gary Nolan when Gary got started over at WHEN years ago, too, so Gary had Bill on for a while this afternoon to talk about Rod.
I worked with Rod many moons ago at WTLB. He joined us at the WTLB reunion a couple of years ago. A newsman back when newsmen understood what they were reading and delivered it with assurance..