By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com
DETROIT — Robert “Mac” McIntyre, a Vietnam vet and retired Detroit Police officer who worked on a DEA/Detroit Police Task Force in the 1980s and 90s, died Jan. 30 in Michigan. He was 72.
Born on March 23, 1945, McIntyre served in the U.S. Marines from 1963 to 1967. While in Vietnam he was wounded and received the Purple Heart.
After returning to the states, McIntyre joined the Detroit Police Department in June 1969. After the Police Academy, he was assigned to the First Precinct.
As a result of his work ethic and performance on the job, he was elevated to the Special Operations Section (SOS) Division, according to former members of the DEA Detroit Group One Task Force.
While in the SOS Division, he worked vice, the Larceny Unit, and was eventually assigned to a plainclothes felony crew. He was the recipient of numerous letters of commendation, departmental citations, and he received the DPD Life Saving Award.
In 1986, he joined the DEA task force in the Detroit Division at a time crack cocaine was ravaging the city and big violent gangs with names like the Chambers Brothers dominated the drug trade. He was the case agent on a number of investigations and “was exemplary” in undercover operations, the former task force members said.
In 1994, he was promoted to sergeant and returned to the Detroit Police Department. He was was assigned to the 12th Precinct Patrol Section and then in 1995, he was transferred to the Narcotic Enforcement Division (NED).
While assigned to NED, he supervised a narcotic enforcement group and was involved in the execution of hundreds of narcotic search and seizure warrants. In August 1995, after a 26 year career, he retired.
The previous year, he married Carolyn Gardner. They moved to Howell, Mich., north of Detroit.
Family described him as a caring grandfather who cherished his dogs. He also had a love of golf and enjoyed a good game of cribbage with friends.
He is survived by his wife Carolyn; step sons William, Darren (Bernadette); grandchildren Donovan, Anthony, Alexandra; and sister Pat Moore
