CAPTAIN WESLEY F. ALLEN

BADGE 14 & 39, ID 1011

SDPD 04/01/1954 - 1985

06/06/1928 - 01/10/1997

THE THIN BLUE LINE

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When Wesley F. Allen retired as a captain in the San Diego Police Department in 1985, he left some parting advice for fledgling officers:

"This job is a way of life. If you look at it as just a job you are not going to be effective and you will always be unhappy."

Capt. Allen, a 31 1/2 -year San Diego police veteran, died of cancer Jan. 3 at Grossmont Hospital. He was 68.

After joining the Police Department in April 1954, he rose through the ranks from patrol officer in Logan Heights to sergeant in 1961. He became a lieutenant six years later, was promoted to captain in December 1969 and retired in the investigations division.

Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Capt. Allen worked for the FBI as a clerk at age 18. In 1950, he enlisted in the Army and served as a drill sergeant, preparing recruits for deployment in the Korean War.

After his retirement from law enforcement, Capt. Allen was a leader of a social group of fellow retired police officers called Team Endo. The retirees camped and drove off-road vehicles in such areas as Baja California, the Mojave Desert, Death Valley, Utah and Colorado.

Capt. Allen also enjoyed researching his genealogy, traveling to the East Coast, Salt Lake City and the Northwest.

A 44-year resident of San Diego County, he lived in El Cajon for the last 18 years.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Patricia; a daughter, Stacey Allen, of Del Mar; and a son, Michael Allen, of Corpus Christi, Texas.