By Maddie Lindgren
Editor’s note: This story is via Community News Service in partnership with Vermont State University Castleton.
Not many would venture out into icy water during the middle of winter, but Silas Loomis made it just another day at work. When a car crashed through the ice, Loomis didn’t flinch.
“I knew it was going to be a wet one,” Loomis said with a laugh.
He took off his gear and braced himself for what was going to occur. Then the ice began to break.
“I knew it was gonna happen,” he said. “We pulled him out of there by the hair on his head and saved him, but let me tell you, the water was cold. We were all fortunate that night.”
For a little more than half a century, luck may have played a role in Loomis’ career, but his passion, instinct and strong ties to his community were what truly established his legacy. Whether he was rescuing someone from icy waters, cruising through town on his police motorcycle, or helping deliver not one, but three babies on the side of the road, Loomis became a local legend in his time.
Now that he is retiring after 53 years, he looks back on a career built on unbreakable commitment to his people.
A life built on service
Loomis was raised on a farm in Hydeville and has resided in Castleton his entire life.
“Right here,” he replied when asked where he was born and raised. “Down the road where Paul’s Pizza is. We owned the east end of the track, where the old Bomoseen Raceway was.”
A worthy lesson from his dad started his law enforcement career early.
“You owe more to your town than just paying taxes,” he said, reciting his dad’s words.
The phrase stuck, driving him to a life of public service.
But his service was not just a commitment to Castleton. Loomis served 40 years in the military, beginning with the U.S. Naval Seabees during the Vietnam war and later transitioning to the Army National Guard.
During his time in the military, he was deployed to several destinations like Kuwait and Iraq. After experiencing a series of injuries, including two significant traumatic head injuries, a broken neck and back, and a hip injury, he retired as sergeant major.
“I’m like a walking threat to metal detectors,” he said. “At the airport, you have to warn them in advance.”
The constable position, originally a one-year term, was proposed to Loomis by community members encouraging him to run. “We had it as a one-year term at the time, so you ran annually. We wound up having it become a two-year job because you’re not getting very much done in a year,” Loomis said. “If you want to be a constable and get things done in your town and get trained, you require more than a year.”
The weight of the badge
Over the years, Loomis has watched and dealt with nearly every situation possible in a small town. From cracking homicide cases to settling custody disputes over everything from pets to boats, he has been a presence people can trust.
“Custody of children, custody of animals, custody of the boats, the ATVs, the campers. Custody of everything,” Loomis said.
But things can go badly in a hurry. Loomis remembers how this work affected his personal life.
“I’ve witnessed a lot over the years. A lot of fatalities, and a lot of motor-vehicle crashes. There’s some things I’ll die with. Sometimes it hasn’t been very pleasant,” Loomis said. “I coached football for years, and I have arrested some of my old football players, and some of my buddies I have known for years.”
With this type of work, being exposed to things you will never forget is inevitable. But there will always be the highs that make policing worth it. In the summer, he was the only constable in the state to ride a police motorcycle.
“It was the best community policing and public relations you could ever have,” he said, pointing out it allowed him to meet people in a fashion that a police cruiser could not.
The community’s constable
One of the most fulfilling aspects of his job was his time spent at Castleton-Hubbardton Union School following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut.
“People stopped me on the street and asked why there weren’t more law enforcement officers at the school. So, I started traveling up there and wasn’t reimbursed, which was fine. I did that for maybe four-and-a-half years,” he said.
Loomis stayed involved, ensuring the safety of children, teachers and parents, which just sums up the kind of person he is. “That was one of my more rewarding experiences,” he said.
He also seems to be there for people in their most vulnerable moments. He recalls aiding with the delivery of three babies on the side of the road, which was both unexpected and hectic.
“They were on their way to the hospital but didn’t make it in time. Luckily for me, I didn’t have any hair on top of my head, so they couldn’t rip it out while yelling and calling me names,” he said with a laugh.
When asked what he would miss the most, Loomis did not hesitate.
“The camaraderie among other law enforcement officers, the citizens of Castleton and court system personnel. This town has more good people than bad,” he said.
Castleton Police Chief Peter Mantello, who has worked closely with Loomis throughout the years, will always have high regard for him.
“We’ve always had true respect for one another, you know, and we’re both military. I would consider him an older brother,” Mantello said.
He also commended Loomis’ persistent dedication. “He has been dedicated to the community. He has shown his generosity towards them. He has shown sympathy. He empathizes with many of the folks here. He really was the guy who looked out for the elderly and checked on them, especially because he certainly knew their families throughout the years,” Mantello said.
Respected in his final chapter
Unfortunately, time has a way of catching up with people, even the most loyal. When asked what he is looking forward to following retirement, he simply said, “Being a human being.”
“You know, I am the town’s longest-serving elected law enforcement officer, I think in its history. And I believe I have the right to live as a human being again,” Loomis said.
Loomis will leave behind a legacy of unwavering commitment to his community. “The nice thing about a constable is that a lot of people don’t pay attention to them, but they know their town. They know how it breathes, how it functions. And you have to walk that line — between politics and duty. Sometimes, you just have to do what the statutes tell you to do,” Loomis said.
After taking a moment to reflect on his career, he summed up his experience in a few words.
“Dedicated, loyal and straightforward. Never quit, never give up and never surrender,” he said.
