A long-time police officer is being remembered for his quick wit and his passion for keeping children safe.
Dennis Ball died Feb. 22 in his 70th year.
“He always wanted to make people smile,” said Jack Latimer, Ball’s friend and band-mate. “His main mission in life was to make people happy, and he did very well at that.”
Even a week before Ball’s death, when Latimer visited him, “he was still cracking jokes.”
Ball was with the former Orillia Police Service for more than 27 years and served another two-and-a-half years with the OPP before retiring. A lot of his time was spent in schools.
“He was well known and well respected by the kids in the area,” Latimer said. “He was a great police officer and loved his career.”
Decades ago, during what was a much more different time in policing, Ball “would often drive a drunk home just so he got home safe, rather than lock them up for the night,” Latimer recalled.
“A lot of people respected him for that.”
Police officers often have to see and deal with the worst of the worst, but Ball handled it like a pro, his friend said.
“He had some trying times. His life was threatened a couple of times,” Latimer said. “He always remained a happy guy, right to the end.”
Lynda Cranney crossed paths with Ball when she was a dispatcher in Orillia, but one of her first memories of him was when she was in school and Ball was driving the van adorned with an image of Elmer the Safety Elephant.
“His passion was the safety part in the community,” said Cranney, now a constable with Huntsville OPP.
Ball helped organize a kids’ Christmas party in town, she said.
“He was always such a significant part of our community.”
Although years passed between her visits with Ball, whenever they got together, “it was like time had never passed.”
Ball was a man who stuck to his passions, according to Latimer, who recalled his friend’s love of motorcycles.
“He almost died in a motorcycle crash in the States. He said that was the biggest life-changing moment in his life,” Latimer said. “He was told never to get on a bike again.”
Ball wasn’t having it. As soon as he was able, he was back on two wheels.
Latimer has many fond memories of his friendship with Ball. The two played together in The Trilytes — Ball on keyboard and Latimer on guitar. They also enjoyed their time on the water. The last time to two went out onto the lake, they reeled in 14 largemouth bass.
They’re memories Latimer will cherish as he mourns his best friend.
“It’s a sad time for us,” he said. “I’m going to miss him terribly.”
Ball was suffering from cancer when he died last week.
A memorial service for Ball will take place Saturday at the Simcoe Funeral Home in Orillia at 1 p.m. A celebration of life will follow at the Stephen Leacock Museum.
