Patrick H. Allen, Jr., a Toledo police veteran who worked 22 of his 30 years on the force as a juvenile detective, died March 24 at his Washington Township home. He was 88.

He was battling various illnesses and had been in declining health for more than four years, said Doug Allen, his oldest son.

Mr. Allen joined the Toledo Police Department in 1958 and worked in field operations, crime prevention, and the juvenile bureau, which was his longest assignment.

Frank Stiles, a retired Toledo police detective and true-crime author, worked hundreds of cases with Mr. Allen for about 10 years on the juvenile bureau’s felony unit. He remembered his fellow officer and longtime friend as “a heck of a guy” who had keen crime scene investigation skills.

“Pat never wanted any credit for himself, but he worked very hard and was a very intelligent investigator,” Mr. Stiles said. “He did his job. He was reliable.”

Mr. Allen received numerous commendation reports from the administration as well as letters of appreciation from citizens praising his work, according to police department records. He retired in 1988.

He inspired his oldest son to follow in his footsteps, and Doug Allen is now in his 35th year with the Toledo Police Department.

“My dad made me the man I am,” his son said. “I wanted to help people like he did.”

He said his father didn’t often talk about specific assignments or cases he was working, which he suspected was because many were traumatic situations.

“He was a private man. He didn’t bring a lot of work home with him,” he said.

But Mr. Allen’s family did see the camaraderie in the law enforcement community.

“They hung together. They raised their kids together,” his son said. “It was like a second family for everybody, and I decided that that’s what I wanted to be a part of.”

While working as a police officer, Mr. Allen also picked up shifts working security at Lion Store, a department store that later was bought by Dillard’s. The second job helped support his family.

“When we were kids, we didn’t have a whole lot of money,” Doug Allen said, adding that his father also found time to construct an addition on the family home.

Mr. Allen was born Nov. 2, 1929, in New Lexington, Ohio, to Patrick Sr. and Goldie Allen. He served in the U.S. Army for three years, with 13 months spent on the front lines in Korea as a medic. He received a purple heart, a silver star, and three bronze stars, his son said.

He married his wife, Phyllis Allen, on Aug. 30, 1952, when he returned from the war. They made their home in Washington Township.

In retirement the couple camped across the country and spent their winters in Texas or Florida.

Surviving are his wife of 65 years, Phyllis Allen; sons Doug, Patrick III, and Terry Allen; daughters Beverly Mocniak and Brenda Allen; sister Helen Menter; 10 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren.

Visitation is from 2 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Reeb Funeral Home in Sylvania. Funeral services are 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Clement Catholic Church in Toledo.

The family suggests tributes to Toledo Police Explorer Post No. 2028 in care of the Toledo Police Department, 525 N. Erie St.

Contact Sarah Elms at selms@theblade.com, 419-724-6103, or on Twitter @BySarahElms.

First Published April 3, 2018, 4:00 a.m.