By Terra Avilla
You may know him as Michael Haldane, “Mike”, or Sgt. Haldane. He will forever be known to me and my family as “Uncle Diz.” The nickname “Haldizzle” stemmed from a nickname (that he loathed… so of course it stuck) provided to him by officers at the Police Department. “Diz” was born after Mike started watching Peach, it was too hard for her to say, so she shortened it to “Diz” and his name “Uncle Diz” was started.
Now, I like to consider myself a good judge of character, and if you told me 6 years ago, I would love “Diz” as much as I do, and would let him watch my daughters, I would tell you that you were mistaken.
I mean he seemed “okay” enough, he spent his entire life serving as a police officer for the Susanville police department, and when I met him he was currently acting as a reserve officer.
However, he was crotchety. I mean Mr. Wilson from Dennis the Menace, you better not let your ball go onto his lawn, bah humbug, type of cranky.
So, imagine my surprise the first time I saw him interact with an infant. This cranky old guy softened. In fact he melted. When I became pregnant, besides the countless jokes that I was chubby (see I told you he was cranky), he would make countless comments about how when Peach was born he would help out in any way possible.
When the holidays arrived, I invited Diz to spend it with my families, I mean he was cranky, but I didn’t want him to be alone. And from then on out, Diz became family.
I have never met a man that honestly loved children as much as Mike does. I remember him volunteering to be our Santa for holiday with a hero, and then paying for an upgraded suit for Santa the following year-because the, “kids deserve the best.”
He donated to Toys for Tots, and wouldn’t ya know, he even is a volunteer for the day care at church and through the VBS program.
Oh and if you have a kid selling cookies, wrapping paper, magazine subscriptions, used lawn clippings, the guy is a sucker for kids and can’t say no – so make sure you ask him.
Anyone who worked with Sgt. Haldane would tell you he always had a soft spot for helping children, and that sure has not changed as he has gotten older. When the toddler next door was sick and in the hospital, Diz lost sleep over it. His heart is that big.
Michael Haldane has been one of the reasons my family has found sanity in Susanville.
He is always willing to be a ‘manny’ (another title he wishes would go away) and help support my family however he needs to.
Between soccer games, dance recitals, and days where Peachy vomits and he stays home with her, he is our hero. Uncle Diz, has been instrumental in my life in Susanville, but it’s not just mine. Michael has been a public servant to this community for decades.
Even with his redundant dad jokes, he quite possibly has one of the most giving spirits and biggest hearts of anyone I have ever met. I am so blessed I didn’t judge a book by its cover, because my family gained a new member.
He always jokes, asking when I am going to write about him. Well this post is long overdue, because Michael “Diz” Haldane is certainly one of the reasons I love the place we live.
