People In Our Neighborhood: Ray Seiling, Downtown Police Officer
Many folks around the Triangle recognize Ray, but here's a little more about the man behind the chalk.
Name: Ray Seiling
Town in which you live: Bethlehem
Current Job: Downtown Police Officer
How long have you worked for the Borough of Emmaus? Since 2006
What did you do before you became our Downtown Officer?
"I was in route sales for almost 14 years selling bubble gum machines and novelty machines with plastic capsules with toys in them. My son is a police officer in Whitehall, and when I met my wife, she lived on Harrison Street. She got one of those fliers in the mail for upcoming summer programs. Park police were wanted, so I went and applied, was hired, and after I got hired for that, the downtown beat officer’s position became available a couple months later in 2007. I was asked if I was interested, the police chief and sergeant interviewed me, and I accepted the position. I’ll be here four years this June 26."
What are your "parking pet peeves?"
"People who live in the area, in the apartments, and people who work in the stores who take up all the parking spaces for the general public and customers. Sometimes they carry on if they get a ticket. You just do what you have to do."
Tell us about the strangest parking job you have ever seen.
"When it snows, the people, instead of pulling in all the way, block the whole street. The big trucks try to come down and can’t make it through. It’s kind of crazy."
What do you like best about your job?
"Meeting the general public, helping them out the best I can. Here at the beauty shop (The Hair Loft on the Triangle), I treat the customers really decent. If a lady goes in to get her hair styled, she might be in there two to four hours, whereas a man might only take a half hour. I go in to check randomly to see if anyone is parked out there. I’ll tell them not to worry about it because they’re patronizing the business. They have about 20 steps going up there, and there’s elderly clientele going in there. It’s just common courtesy. I try to treat people the way they should be treated."
What's your favorite time of year to work and why?
"The fall and at Christmas. Everybody’s in a good mood for Christmas shopping. The fall foliage is nice."
Where do you eat when you're working?
"Traub’s hot dogs, just about every day. I get BBQs and a Traub’s dog with the works."
What do you do on your day off?
"I scrapbook. I collect articles out of newspapers. I’ve been doing it since grade school. Fires, anything police-related and fire truck pictures. Right now I’m up to my fourth scrapbook for 2011. I have about 200 total. I put them in manila folders with the year. I go from book one and usually end at about book eight or nine by the end of the year. I get out of town papers. Wilkes-Barre, Shamokin, Mt. Carmel area. I’m originally from Philadelphia, but I just love the coal region. My route sales took me up into that area and it’s a nice area."
What's one thing that no one knows about you that you wish people knew about you?
"I volunteer for a fire company – Hanover Township, Lehigh County. I’ve been a fire policeman for 25 years. I enjoy helping the general public."
Ray continued, "I also have another job I go to. I work for a local township doing basically the same thing I do here. It’s called code enforcement. I issue parking tickets just like I do over here, but there we’re in a car so we have four wheels."
Have you ever taken a sick day?
"A couple times. I’ll work on my deathbed if I have to. There was a time back in January when I had bronchitis, so I had to call in sick. There’s no fill-in, I’m it!"
What's the best advice you've ever received?
"My mother told me years and years ago, 'Always tell the truth and you’ll always be happy.' I try to be upfront and honest with people. That’s the way I am."
emma ville
10:24 am on Friday, May 13, 2011
Ray is a wonderful asset to Emmaus, a friendly face and always so helpful. It's a pleasure to see his smiley face every morning on the way to work.
Lyle Richardson
10:30 am on Friday, May 13, 2011
Yes I agree Ray is a verry nice person and he calls a lot of people by name. Emmaus is lucky to have him.....keep up the good work Ray....
Nancy O'Keefe
2:27 pm on Friday, May 13, 2011
Ray is one of the first people I met when I moved my business to Emmaus. I consider him the Emmaus Ambassador, because I've never seen anything from Ray but smiles, waves and kindness as he walks his beat. We are so blessed to have him.
Nancy O'Keefe
La Belle Cuisine-Fine Cookware
Jill Killo
4:18 pm on Friday, May 13, 2011
My condolences to Ray's family and friends, the Borough of Emmaus, and the Emmaus Police Department. Ray's sudden passing is a great loss that will touch many. Ray's huge smiles will be missed.
Nancy O'Keefe
4:55 pm on Friday, May 13, 2011
In her diary, Anne Frank wrote, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” Ray Seiling never waited for the “right” moment to make the world a better place. Every moment was that moment. His greeting, his smile, his handshake, and his wave all spoke of a man who loved people. Quiet and unassuming, kind and personable, Ray performed his daily patrol through Emmaus with pride and diligence. He took his job seriously, but always made time to speak and well-wish all whom he knew and didn’t know. Ray was the face of Emmaus, and we are diminished by his passing. May he continue to watch over us from his heavenly home as our hearts mourn the loss of our friend.
Nancy O'Keefe
Ed Schmidt
6:52 pm on Friday, May 13, 2011
I stopped into Traub's Hot Dog Shop today and got the sad news that Ray pass away during the night. Ray will be missed my the staff at the Finish Line Running Store. He was a great guy and also stopped in our store before he ticketed people out front. Ray, I think parking is free up there where your headed, so rest with the Lord and put a good word in for us.
Jenae Holtzhafer
10:31 pm on Friday, May 13, 2011
It's still hard to believe I was sitting with Ray at the Triangle on Thursday afternoon, listening to the fountain and feeling the warm breeze. His final day on this earth was a beautiful one. He was so excited about this column being published.
He checked with me three times before I left to make sure he knew how to say my name. I could tell it was important to him to remember it. It was clear that he really cared. He even stopped traffic on the Triangle so I could back out safely as I left. I feel so honored to have had the chance to talk to Ray that day. I'm still in disbelief by this news. Emmaus won't be the same without him. He had such a kind heart. I will always remember his words of advice, "Always tell the truth and you'll always be happy."
Diane Hutchinson
9:25 am on Saturday, May 14, 2011
Such sad news. I didn't know Ray personally, but I was enjoying reading this article until I realized he was no longer with us. I will miss seeing his smile...
Nicole Frierson
1:14 pm on Saturday, May 14, 2011
Ray was the essence of what Emmaus is all about. He was a friendly face, always willing to help you in any way he could. He truly cared how you were & the events going on in your life. Ray will be missed. I had received this e-mail From Kathy Haney yesterday, & would like to pass it on to anyone who would like to do something on behalf of Ray's memory.
Hi,
I'm very sad to tell you that our friend, Ray Seiling (our infamous "Emmaus beat cop") passed away this afternoon of a brain aneurism.
So many of you enjoyed Ray, his smile, his many kindnesses and his loyalty to our community; as such, we'd like to offer our condolences on behalf of the Emmaus business community.
We would like to work with the appropriate borough committee to determine the viability of the purchase of a park bench or a tree with a plaque (nice thoughts of how much Ray loved the community and how much we love him). Any money remaining would be donated to a charity of his families' choice in his memory. Ideas, of course, are welcome.
An account has been set up at KNBT for the business community to make donations. You can stop by any KNBT branch and donate to the "Ray Seiling Memorial Fund". Please make your donation by June 1, 2011.
Thank you,
Kathy
Kathleen Haney
Josh Popichak
7:41 pm on Saturday, May 14, 2011
I, too, was enjoying reading this until I realized that Officer Seiling has passed away. I am sure he was the kindly officer who volunteered to help me back out of a parking space next to the Triangle several months ago, when there were mounds of snow and ice on the ground. He stood in the way of oncoming traffic while I maneuvered out of the spot in front of Perk (also gone). That attention to the needs of another person made a lasting impression on me, and I'm sure many others--both residents and visitors to Emmaus. My heart goes out to all Mr. Seiling's friends and family at what must be a very difficult time.
Diane Kropf
2:24 am on Sunday, May 15, 2011
Ray was such a wonderful, caring person that I've known at Traub's Doggies and on his regular patrol through Emmaus. My sympathy to his family, friends and the Emmaus community. It will be the little things we remember, the quiet moments, the smiles, the laughter. It will be the memory of these little things that help to push away the pain.
Please know how much you were cared for and how deeply your loss is felt by all. May hope and peace be yours today and always.
Diane K. (customer of Traub's)
Donna Seiling
9:27 am on Monday, May 16, 2011
Thank you for this wonderful article. On a day that was very painful for my family and I, it gave me that memory and smile I needed. His character and nature is seen throughout this piece. Words can't express how much it means to me and my family. Its something I can share with my daughter when she is older. I'd also like to thank everyone for their outouring of support and kind words. My father was loved by many.
Donna Seiling
John Fleming
3:17 pm on Friday, May 20, 2011
Ray was the man in the corner house with Donna and Ray, My family still live
in the middle house, we will alway remenber the good times,rest in peace Ray
John and jackie Fleming