When a uniformed state trooper led 98-year-old Al Kimball out of Cedar Mountain Commons in Newington last month, some of the employees thought he was being arrested. They didn't know that the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Safety, John Danaher III, had just honored him for his past service in the State Police.

They didn't know that the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Safety, John Danaher III, had just honored him for his past service in the State Police. Al is the oldest living state trooper.

Al is the oldest living state trooper.Danaher had presented him with an official lieutenant's hat and patch, plus several lapel pins, and had ordered Trooper Matt Gervase to take him for a spin in his cruiser to inspect the state-of-the art equipment. Al said that when he joined the force, they didn't even have radios in their cruisers before 1942.

Danaher had presented him with an official lieutenant's hat and patch, plus several lapel pins, and had ordered Trooper Matt Gervase to take him for a spin in his cruiser to inspect the state-of-the art equipment. Al said that when he joined the force, they didn't even have radios in their cruisers before 1942.Al Kimball is my brother-in-law. Recalling Al's career brings back memories of the happy days when we were all so much younger. Al entered the State Police Training School at Ridgefield in March 1938 with a class of 25.

Al Kimball is my brother-in-law. Recalling Al's career brings back memories of the happy days when we were all so much younger. Al entered the State Police Training School at Ridgefield in March 1938 with a class of 25. The Great Depression was in full swing. Steady jobs were scarce, and he was happy to get the appointment after working reluctantly on the family farm.

The Great Depression was in full swing. Steady jobs were scarce, and he was happy to get the appointment after working reluctantly on the family farm.He graduated in June. In those days the commissioner insisted that graduates be called officers rather than troopers. Each was assigned a new police cruiser and a new motorcycle.

He graduated in June. In those days the commissioner insisted that graduates be called officers rather than troopers. Each was assigned a new police cruiser and a new motorcycle. "It was a four cylinder Indian," Al said. "A beautiful piece of equipment such as I had always wanted. My prayer was answered."

"It was a four cylinder Indian," Al said. "A beautiful piece of equipment such as I had always wanted. My prayer was answered." In fair weather they rode the cycles from mid-April to mid-December, handling both highway patrol and criminal investigations. There was no detective bureau.

In fair weather they rode the cycles from mid-April to mid-December, handling both highway patrol and criminal investigations. There was no detective bureau.Officers wore jodhpurs then instead of long pants, with shiny black boots. Al was a striking figure in his uniform, nearly 6 feet tall. He was assigned to the Stafford Springs Barracks, Station C, where he took care of all photography.

Officers wore jodhpurs then instead of long pants, with shiny black boots. Al was a striking figure in his uniform, nearly 6 feet tall. He was assigned to the Stafford Springs Barracks, Station C, where he took care of all photography. But Al is a man of many talents. He was an excellent cook, and when the barracks chef was ill he took over the kitchen for three weeks.

But Al is a man of many talents. He was an excellent cook, and when the barracks chef was ill he took over the kitchen for three weeks.The officers loved Al's food, especially his cherry pies. When this dessert received a lot of newspaper publicity, his commanding officer ordered him to make a special cherry pie for Gov. Baldwin, and it was delivered to Hartford in great style with a state police escort.

The officers loved Al's food, especially his cherry pies. When this dessert received a lot of newspaper publicity, his commanding officer ordered him to make a special cherry pie for Gov. Baldwin, and it was delivered to Hartford in great style with a state police escort.In 1946, after attending the Traffic Institute at Northwestern University, Al was transferred to state police headquarters in Hartford in the new Traffic Division. Promotions were by competitive examination, and in 1950 he made sergeant and, four years later, lieutenant.

In 1946, after attending the Traffic Institute at Northwestern University, Al was transferred to state police headquarters in Hartford in the new Traffic Division. Promotions were by competitive examination, and in 1950 he made sergeant and, four years later, lieutenant. As lieutenant he commanded the Harford barracks with a complement of 45 men and two women, retiring after 22 years of service.

As lieutenant he commanded the Harford barracks with a complement of 45 men and two women, retiring after 22 years of service.After leaving the state police, Al worked at several jobs in the motor transport industry before he finally retired from gainful employment in 1993. He's seen many innovations since he was born in 1911: radio, television, computers, DNA testing. The world has changed since he got his Indian motorcycle so long ago.

After leaving the state police, Al worked at several jobs in the motor transport industry before he finally retired from gainful employment in 1993. He's seen many innovations since he was born in 1911: radio, television, computers, DNA testing. The world has changed since he got his Indian motorcycle so long ago. carolkimball0647@yahoo.com

carolkimball0647@yahoo.com