Francis "Pete" Toomey Jr.

Charlotte - Francis Peter “Pete” Toomey Jr., 78, passed away peacefully Saturday May 11, 2013 at Union County Hospice House in Monroe, NC. He was born on April 8, 1935 in Charlotte, NC, son of the late Francis “Frank” P. and Kathleen (Gallagher) Toomey. Mr. Toomey retired from the Charlotte Police Department in April, 1990 as a Sergeant, having served 25 years of service in law enforcement. During his service with CPD, Pete was active in many bureaus such as the Crime Lab, Crime Prevention, Training Academy and several Patrol Divisions. He was one of the founding members of the CPD Bomb Squad and the CPD Scuba Search & Recovery Team. Prior to joining the Charlotte Police Department, Pete was a DJ for Charlotte radio station WGIV. He started working there in his mid teens after school doing general tasks and began working full time after graduating from O’Donoghue (Charlotte Catholic) High School in 1953. A chance to fill in for another DJ paved the way for his radio career as the “Hound Dawg”, a moniker that stayed with him for years beyond his radio career. Pete spent 12 years in that field as a radio personality before joining the Charlotte Police Department in 1965. He first worked as a radio dispatcher when he joined to CPD Reserves then became a full time officer shortly after. His radio background came back into action in the early 1970’s as the “Big WAYS” Traffic Cop, advising listeners of traffic problems while flying over Charlotte in the station’s helicopter. In 1955, Pete met Delores Hoover, daughter of Belmont Police Chief Giles E. Hoover. Pete and Delores married in 1956 and, in addition to his beautiful wife, he also gained one of his lifelong best friends, her older brother Harold Hoover. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters Margaret “Peggy” Hege and Dolores Toomey; his brother Timothy “Tim” Charles Toomey and his beloved granddaughter Tiffany Anne Pope, who each met him in Heaven. The family would like to thank the doctors and nursing staff of Presbyterian Hospital-Matthews for their care and comfort while Mr. Toomey was a patient. We also want to express our extreme gratitude to the wonderful staff of Union County Hospice House for putting comfort and peace in Mr. Toomey’s time there. He was truly blessed to be there. Pete is survived by his wife of 57 years, Delores Hoover Toomey, sons Francis Peter “Pete” Toomey III, William “Bill” Patrick Toomey (Ellen); daughters Mare Toomey Simpson, Patrica “Patty” Toomey Yates (David) and Robbin Toomey Souza (Jim); and the constant source of his pride and joy-all of his grandchildren: Ryan Toomey, Kelsey Toomey (children of Pete Toomey III and Regina Short), Sean Toomey (Miranda Reed), Joshua Toomey, Brennan Yates (Mandy), Colby, Tanner, Conner and Skylar Yates, Melissa Brooke, Brittany and Brandise Souza and great grandchildren Damon, Caden and Noah Yates. Services will be held Thursday May 16, 2013 at Lowe-Neddo Funeral Home in Matthews. Visitation is at 5:00 PM and the memorial service will be held at 7:00 PM. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.LoweNeddoFuneralHome.com In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (www.nleomf.com)

Francis "Pete" Toomey Jr.

April 8, 1935 - May 11, 2013