Hounchell died Wednesday at the Veranda Gardens Nursing Home in Hamilton County. He was 77.
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Hounchell was an innovator of sorts in community policing, said Fairfield police Officer Doug Day. He went to the schools to talk with students and spoke to organizations in the community. Nowadays, community policing is commonplace, but Day said Hounchell was doing it “way before it was a popular thing to do.”
Hounchell, a U.S. Army veteran, was hired by the Fairfield Police Department on Aug. 15, 1969. He worked his way up to sergeant and lieutenant, and retired in 1997, 28 years to the day of when he was hired.
Roberts said Hounchell was an outstanding police officer — saying he was “fair, but he was strict” — but also enjoyed life and his family. He worked with his wife, Sandra, who owned “All About Birds,” and later in life traveled with her as she showed horses.
Day started on the force in 1993 and worked with Hounchell in the few years before he retired. Day took over some of Hounchell’s responsibilities, namely being the department’s firearms instructor and managing the department’s firearms armory.
“It wasn’t a job for him. It was truly a profession,” said Day, who added that Hounchell’s police personnel file was about 3 inches thick filled with commendations and letters of appreciation from residents.
Among his honors was an award in 1976 for Outstanding Ohio Police Officer in the Field of Highway Safety.
Hounchell, who was born in Hamilton on Oct. 11, 1941, married his wife, Sandra (nee Osborne) on Oct. 21, 1961. He is survived by his son, Chad (Cindy) Hounchell; daughter, Traci (Chris) Onkst; grandchildren, Austin, Adam, Mikayla, Megan, Elliana, Jake and Peyton. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents and sister, Jacquelin Kay Simpson.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Brown Dawson Flick Funeral Home, 1350 Millville Ave. in Hamilton. Funeral services will follow.
Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Monday at Greenwood Cemetery, 1602 Greenwood Ave. in Hamilton. Memorial contributions can be made to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America.
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