WEST CHESTER TWP. — Officer John Handorf works a beat to make this fast-growing suburban area a better and safer place.

        But he might soon find himself doing that work in another part of the world.

        The 18-year Army veteran, who has been with the West Chester Township Police Department for 18 months, recently was put on alert for active duty with the 377th Military Police Company, which could lead to involvement in Operation Enduring Freedom.

        “I'm doing my part to make sure the world stays stable so I'm not fighting in my back yard,” said Officer Handorf, 37, of Price Hill. “I would much rather fight overseas than in my back yard; so if that's what we have to do, I'm more than willing to do it.”

        He served 15 years active duty, the last three in an Army Reserve unit in Cincinnati. He now serves with the military police out of a Seymour Avenue unit in Bond Hill.

        His company was placed on alert Jan. 16 and received its uniforms Friday.

        The alert doesn't necessarily mean he will go anywhere; he just has been notified there is a chance he might be called to serve. But if he does go, he will have to put in at least one year and stay for a maximum of two.

        The second-generation cop would leave behind his wife, Melanie, and children, two boys ages 11 and 7 and a 4-year-old girl.

        “The boys have been through it before, but my little girl doesn't understand what it means when Daddy goes to play Army,” the soft-spoken father said. “I could be gone for a long time. It's hard. Some of the places I could go are fairly safe, but others are not and it could flare up at any time.”

        His penchant for serving the public stemmed from a childhood admiration for his uncle, fallen Cincinnati Police Sgt. Charles Handorf. He was shot to death Dec. 8, 1974, during a domestic violence call in Sayler Park.

        The flagpole next to Cincinnati Police Department's District 3 police station is dedicated to Sgt. Handorf.

        “I remember at the funeral seeing all the police cars and it was a hushed silence, very respectful,” he said. “My uncle was very well known on the west side. I didn't understand at the time; but now when I look back on it, there was total respect for him and I thought it would be totally awesome.”

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