Richard Frank remembered: One of Utica's first Black police officers, jazz club owner dies

H. Rose Schneider, Observer-Dispatch
·1 min read
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Richard Frank, one of the first Black men to serve in Utica's police force, has died.

A jazz club owner who also worked in multiple roles at Utica University, Frank died Nov. 9, in Ocala, Florida, according to his obituary. He was 91.

Born Aug. 12, 1931, in Utica, Richard Frank was a star athlete at Utica Free Academy, his family wrote. At 21, he was one of the first Black officers appointed to the Utica Police Department on Jan. 5, 1953, according to the department.

The Central United Methodist Church held a march commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. December 1969. Leading the way were Richard Frank, foreground, David Ashe, holding umbrella, and Mayor Louis LaPolla.
The Central United Methodist Church held a march commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. December 1969. Leading the way were Richard Frank, foreground, David Ashe, holding umbrella, and Mayor Louis LaPolla.

After retiring from the police force, he owned the Utica jazz club Birdland for several years during the 1960s and 1970s, his family wrote. In Utica Phoenix article by Cassandra Harris-Lockwood, Lockwood wrote that the club was the only Black bar in Utica which featured live music at the time and served as a place "safe and welcoming for Black artists and musicians."

Frank would later work at Utica University under several roles including director of student activities, assistant dean of students and liaison recruiter.

He also served as director of community relations for the city of Utica.

Community outreach recruiter Richard L. Frank speaks during a meeting called by then-Utica Mayor David Roefaro to discuss negative comments made by a city resident toward police at Utica City Hall, Tuesday, April 8, 2008.
Community outreach recruiter Richard L. Frank speaks during a meeting called by then-Utica Mayor David Roefaro to discuss negative comments made by a city resident toward police at Utica City Hall, Tuesday, April 8, 2008.

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In that role, while speaking at a 2008 racial justice forum, Frank said, "To sit back and hate, or to feel like you don't want to sit down with somebody and talk about their lifestyle, it's not right."

H. Rose Schneider covers public safety, breaking and trending news for the Observer-Dispatch in Utica. Email Rose at hschneider@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Richard Frank, one of Utica's first Black police officers, dies at 91