A prominent figure in LeFlore County law enforcement died last week.
William Robert Seale, or "Bill" Seale, 85, of Poteau, Okla., died Wednesday. Seale is arguably best-known for serving as the Poteau Police Chief for over two decades.
Stephen Fruen, Poteau's current police chief, called Seale "a visionary for law enforcement."
"He really brought the police department a long way in the time that he was there," Fruen said.
Seale was born Sept. 10, 1932, in Belgreen, Ala. He began his career in law enforcement as a LeFlore County sheriff's deputy and then as county undersheriff from 1956-63.
Seale became the Poteau Police Chief in 1965 and served in that capacity until 1986. Fruen described Seale as a soft-spoken leader who let his actions speak for themselves.
“He was a well-respected person in the community. They knew he ran the police department very sternly," Fruen said. "I don’t think he had to have a big voice."
Fruen said that Seale's largest achievement was enrolling the Police Department in Oklahoma's law enforcement retirement pension plan, in which officers accrue benefits after 20 years of service. The Police Department is still enrolled in the plan.
Fruen also said Seale made progress within the Police Department "back when law enforcement was really basic."
"He was in law enforcement back before there was so much technology in it, and did a fine, fine job of it," Fruen said.
Outside of law enforcement, Seale was an avid hunter and a devout Christian. Fruen said Seale was a deacon at Southside Baptist Church.
Fruen said Seale was cordial man.
"He could talk to you like he knew you his whole life," he said.
Fruen said he became friends with Seale when he joined the Police Department in 2002. This friendship gained importance for Fruen after he became police chief in 2012.
"He came and saw me the first few days that I was in office and really had a lot of insight," Fruen said. "He basically told me that I had a rough few days ahead of me, and that if I needed him, he was there.”
Fruen said that even though Seale was retired, he still consulted him. He said he would "bounce ideas" off of Seale, who always had insight.
"Although we had such a large gap between the time that he worked there and the time that I was in there, he was still very sharp in personnel and policies of the police department," Fruen said.
Seale is survived by his wife of 65 years, Millus; two sons, William Seale II and James Seale; two sisters, Grace Hamilton and Sue Vest; two brothers, Jim Seale and Donnie Seale; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. His son by the same name is the LeFlore County Sheriff, and his son James Seale is the Poteau Street Commissioner.
"He’s had a really nice legacy," Fruen said.
Fruen said that overall, Seale was well-respected by Poteau's residents.
"He was just your all-around good fellow," Fruen said.