Richard Spirlet died this week at 78 years old after being hospitalized with complications from COVID-19. His son, Troy Spirlet, said while his father will be buried in his captain s uniform, he was so much more than a cop.
In work, the late Spirlet fixed cars at his father s autobody shop, served as a public information officer and New Bedford s first K-9 officer, became a selectman in Westport, hosted a talk show and taught criminal justice at a local college. In life, he was a funny man and a family man with a sweet tooth and a perpetual smile, according to those who knew him.