The Observer Newspapers |Capt. Presgrave Has Lifetime of Experience in Herndon

August 1 , 2008

Capt. Presgrave Has Lifetime of Experience in Herndon

The Town of Herndon police place a strong emphasis on community policing and their partnership with the community. In this series, The Observer will profile officers who work and live near or grew up in the Herndon community.

By Rebecca Plevin

Observer Staff Writer

Herndon Police Captain Larry Presgrave raised Yorkshire pigs when he was a young boy growing up just off West Ox Road in the Herndon area. He joined the 4-H club when he was about seven years old and said he kept records of his pigs' food and shots. He also showed his hogs in competitions and said, "I had ribbons like you would not believe."

Raising and caring for pigs, he said, was "an early start to give me responsibility for another life." And since his 4-H days, Presgrave has devoted his career to looking out for other livesÑthose of the residents of Herndon. Presgrave joined the Herndon Police in 1972 and he said he still loves working with people and helping to resolve their problems. "I look forward to every day," he said.

The town has changed dramatically since Presgrave first joined the squad 37 years ago. Presgrave, a 1967 graduate of Herndon High School, said he knew practically everyone in town when he was a young officer. "My arm became tired from waving at people," he said. Back then, he said, there was no Herndon Parkway, there were woods where the police station is currently located today, and it was not uncommon to see tractors on the roads. Now, he said jokingly, a tractor would "look like a spaceship."

One thing that has not changed over the years is Presgrave's dedication to the police force. "I get a tremendous enjoyment out of coming to work and dealing with people," he said. He said he is so fulfilled by the job that though he is eligible to retire from the squad, "I'm not psychologically ready yet." He said, "I just want to make sure" before making a decision on retirement and said he has, "loved it here every minute."

Presgrave seems to be as passionate about police work as he is about his silver-blue 1964 Corvette. He has a picture of his beloved car, which is in "mint condition," behind his desk and he said he enjoys working on the car, polishing it and mothering it. It is "one of the most awesome cars ever made," he said. Pregrave said he has a "passion for anything with a motor" and said he also enjoys tinkering with his two "deuce and a half" trucks. The trucks, one from 1951 and the other from 1970, are the size of fire trucks, he said.

Presgrave, who describes himself as an "outdoors person," said he "gravitated to more open land" and now lives in Loudoun County. He no longer raises swine, but he said he spends a lot of time on his tractor, both mowing and plowing snow. He said he also enjoys spending time outside at his second home in Westmoreland County, which he often visits on the weekends.

The home is on the Potomac River and he said he enjoys working on his boat, the deck and the pier.

Presgrave said he remains dedicated to the Herndon Police and the town residents because he believes he can "make it the best it can be made, with me a part of it." Herndon, he said, "has been excellent to me."