When Robert Cline was growing up in Pittsford, he got a close look at the life of a firefighter: His late father Charles was a longtime volunteer, and at one point chief, of the Pittsford Fire Department. He also had the opportunity to get to know several Monroe County sheriff’s deputies through the fire department.
Cline knew he was interested in both police and fire careers, but didn’t have to pick one when he finished high school.
“I enjoyed being a volunteer fireman and I realized I could still be one and be a police officer too,” said Cline.
Now 50 years old, Cline — who remains a volunteer with the Pittsford Fire Department — was promoted to captain of the Brighton Police Department on July 28.
During high school, Cline was involved with the Pittsford Fire Department’s explorer post as well as the sheriff’s explorer post. He also enrolled in a police science program through Monroe No. 1 BOCES.
Cline became a volunteer with the fire department when he turned 18. After working as a fire dispatcher for the Rochester Fire Department, he was hired as a police officer in Brighton in 1982.
Throughout his 28 years with Brighton, Cline has worked as a crime scene technician and fire investigator. He was promoted to sergeant in 1994 and lieutenant in 2007.
Cline also climbed the ranks of the fire department, serving as chief in 1999. He said the jobs have some crossover.
“We work very closely with the fire departments here in Brighton,” Cline said. “I have this insight into what they’re doing, how it affects our job and what we need to do.”
Police Chief Mark Henderson said it was easy to recommend Cline for a promotion.
“He has served this department with distinction, and he has a very good background,”
Henderson said. “From a personal perspective, he shares the same vision I do.”
Public safety runs in the Cline family. His wife Kelly is a fire marshal for the town of Pittsford; their son Steven is attending Rochester Institute of Technology to become a career firefighter; and their daughter Kimberly is on the evidence response team for the FBI in Buffalo.
Cline said police work can put a lot of stress on family life, which he said is why some people give it up after 20 years. However, Cline said, “this is about all I know how to do; public safety has been my whole life.
“If I can walk away from a call knowing I made a positive difference in this person’s life, then I did my job,” he said.
