"TOUGH HOMBRE' KROTTER, 62, DIES--GEORGE KROTTER KNEW BOTH SIDES OF THE LAW IN FRESNO.
George Krotter, a legendary figure in Fresno law enforcement circles, ex-convict and ex-Fresno sheriff's deputy, died Thursday at age 62.
The one-time arm wrestling champion and professional fighter had been in poor health for at least a decade, winning an early parole from prison in 1988 for six armed robberies partly because of illness.
He died at Veterans Administration Medical Center in Fresno with relatives at his side. Funeral services are pending.
"He was one tough hombre, the greatest street fighter who ever lived in these parts," Fresno businessman Frank Lambetecchio said. "But he also was a real Jekyll and Hyde," Lambetecchio said. "He was a good cop, but once he got fired, he was always getting in trouble."
Mr. Krotter was born July 1, 1936, and went to Fresno schools.
As a young man, he boxed to support his family, according to his son, John Krotter, 38, of Chowchilla. He used the name Johnny Vance in fights inside the ring and in dug-out field pits.
He later joined the Marine Corps and then worked as a deputy constable, including one stint for Clovis Judicial District. Mr. Krotter also taught at the police academy at Fresno City College.
"My dad was a modern-day hero, who chased bank robbers, stopped riots and helped the poor," John Krotter said. "He had it all, but the bad destroyed him."
George Krotter made a splash in Fresno crime circles from the 1960s to early 1980s.
He was hired by the Fresno County Sheriff's Department in 1967, despite an assault conviction in San Jose and an arrest for failure to pay child support.
Mr. Krotter was 6 feet 4 inches tall, weighed 225 pounds, wore a size 16 shoe and was known as "Big George" and "Apache."
Former Sheriff Hal McKinney, who is related to Mr. Krotter, said he "had a heart of gold, a guy you would want in a pinch."
A martial-arts expert, Mr. Krotter drew tough assignments, McKinney said, such as the time he single-handedly stopped the Hells Angels from causing trouble in the town of Friant.
"He'd take off his gun and challenge them to a fight, but no one wanted a piece of him. That's how much respect they had for him," McKinney said.
Mr. Krotter's downfall at the Sheriff's Department began in 1977, when he was arrested on charges that he, his wife, Jeannine, and a business partner ran a brothel inside a Fresno massage parlor. The others were convicted, but charges against Krotter were dropped for lack of evidence. He lost his job anyway.
Mr. Krotter later worked briefly as a sheriff's deputy in San Juan County, N.M., and ran for sheriff there but lost because of publicity over his criminal record.
He then moved to Colorado, where law enforcement sources said Mr. Krotter was once a suspect in a murder case and in an multimillion dollar gold scheme.
He later divided his time between Colorado and Fresno, before being arrested in October 1981 in connection with a series of strong-arm robberies in Fresno. He also was accused of hiring two men to break the knee of a Fresno man who had insulted Mr. Krotter's employer.
To avoid trial, he fled to Mexico in 1982 but was captured a month later in Tijuana.
In an interview in jail, Mr. Krotter told The Bee he had run to get his wife and daughter out of the country because of threats and fears that his ailing wife would be charged with the robberies.
He later pleaded no contest to six counts of armed robbery and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He was paroled in September 1988.
State prison records show that he was returned to prison for a month in 1989 on a probation violation, a drunken-driving conviction.
He was married twice and had six children and 13 grandchildren. Five children are with his first wife, Twyla Hinson Krotter, who divorced him in the 1960s, John Krotter said. He had one daughter with Jeannine, who died of cancer many years ago, Krotter said.
After he got out of prison, he supported his family by painting houses, John Krotter said.
In later years, he told his family he regretted his criminal activities and became religious.
"He was a God-fearing man who taught us that destiny is by choice, not by chance," John Krotter said.
In his last hours of life, John Krotter said his father told his children that he loved them and that they should learn from his mistakes.
Fresno Bee, The (CA)
Date: August 28, 1998
George Krotter, a legendary figure in Fresno law enforcement circles, ex-convict and ex-Fresno sheriff's deputy, died Thursday at age 62.
The one-time arm wrestling champion and professional fighter had been in poor health for at least a decade, winning an early parole from prison in 1988 for six armed robberies partly because of illness.
He died at Veterans Administration Medical Center in Fresno with relatives at his side. Funeral services are pending.
"He was one tough hombre, the greatest street fighter who ever lived in these parts," Fresno businessman Frank Lambetecchio said. "But he also was a real Jekyll and Hyde," Lambetecchio said. "He was a good cop, but once he got fired, he was always getting in trouble."
Mr. Krotter was born July 1, 1936, and went to Fresno schools.
As a young man, he boxed to support his family, according to his son, John Krotter, 38, of Chowchilla. He used the name Johnny Vance in fights inside the ring and in dug-out field pits.
He later joined the Marine Corps and then worked as a deputy constable, including one stint for Clovis Judicial District. Mr. Krotter also taught at the police academy at Fresno City College.
"My dad was a modern-day hero, who chased bank robbers, stopped riots and helped the poor," John Krotter said. "He had it all, but the bad destroyed him."
George Krotter made a splash in Fresno crime circles from the 1960s to early 1980s.
He was hired by the Fresno County Sheriff's Department in 1967, despite an assault conviction in San Jose and an arrest for failure to pay child support.
Mr. Krotter was 6 feet 4 inches tall, weighed 225 pounds, wore a size 16 shoe and was known as "Big George" and "Apache."
Former Sheriff Hal McKinney, who is related to Mr. Krotter, said he "had a heart of gold, a guy you would want in a pinch."
A martial-arts expert, Mr. Krotter drew tough assignments, McKinney said, such as the time he single-handedly stopped the Hells Angels from causing trouble in the town of Friant.
"He'd take off his gun and challenge them to a fight, but no one wanted a piece of him. That's how much respect they had for him," McKinney said.
Mr. Krotter's downfall at the Sheriff's Department began in 1977, when he was arrested on charges that he, his wife, Jeannine, and a business partner ran a brothel inside a Fresno massage parlor. The others were convicted, but charges against Krotter were dropped for lack of evidence. He lost his job anyway.
Mr. Krotter later worked briefly as a sheriff's deputy in San Juan County, N.M., and ran for sheriff there but lost because of publicity over his criminal record.
He then moved to Colorado, where law enforcement sources said Mr. Krotter was once a suspect in a murder case and in an multimillion dollar gold scheme.
He later divided his time between Colorado and Fresno, before being arrested in October 1981 in connection with a series of strong-arm robberies in Fresno. He also was accused of hiring two men to break the knee of a Fresno man who had insulted Mr. Krotter's employer.
To avoid trial, he fled to Mexico in 1982 but was captured a month later in Tijuana.
In an interview in jail, Mr. Krotter told The Bee he had run to get his wife and daughter out of the country because of threats and fears that his ailing wife would be charged with the robberies.
He later pleaded no contest to six counts of armed robbery and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He was paroled in September 1988.
State prison records show that he was returned to prison for a month in 1989 on a probation violation, a drunken-driving conviction.
He was married twice and had six children and 13 grandchildren. Five children are with his first wife, Twyla Hinson Krotter, who divorced him in the 1960s, John Krotter said. He had one daughter with Jeannine, who died of cancer many years ago, Krotter said.
After he got out of prison, he supported his family by painting houses, John Krotter said.
In later years, he told his family he regretted his criminal activities and became religious.
"He was a God-fearing man who taught us that destiny is by choice, not by chance," John Krotter said.
In his last hours of life, John Krotter said his father told his children that he loved them and that they should learn from his mistakes.
Fresno Bee, The (CA)
Date: August 28, 1998
"TOUGH HOMBRE' KROTTER, 62, DIES--GEORGE KROTTER KNEW BOTH SIDES OF THE LAW IN FRESNO.
George Krotter, a legendary figure in Fresno law enforcement circles, ex-convict and ex-Fresno sheriff's deputy, died Thursday at age 62.
The one-time arm wrestling champion and professional fighter had been in poor health for at least a decade, winning an early parole from prison in 1988 for six armed robberies partly because of illness.
He died at Veterans Administration Medical Center in Fresno with relatives at his side. Funeral services are pending.
"He was one tough hombre, the greatest street fighter who ever lived in these parts," Fresno businessman Frank Lambetecchio said. "But he also was a real Jekyll and Hyde," Lambetecchio said. "He was a good cop, but once he got fired, he was always getting in trouble."
Mr. Krotter was born July 1, 1936, and went to Fresno schools.
As a young man, he boxed to support his family, according to his son, John Krotter, 38, of Chowchilla. He used the name Johnny Vance in fights inside the ring and in dug-out field pits.
He later joined the Marine Corps and then worked as a deputy constable, including one stint for Clovis Judicial District. Mr. Krotter also taught at the police academy at Fresno City College.
"My dad was a modern-day hero, who chased bank robbers, stopped riots and helped the poor," John Krotter said. "He had it all, but the bad destroyed him."
George Krotter made a splash in Fresno crime circles from the 1960s to early 1980s.
He was hired by the Fresno County Sheriff's Department in 1967, despite an assault conviction in San Jose and an arrest for failure to pay child support.
Mr. Krotter was 6 feet 4 inches tall, weighed 225 pounds, wore a size 16 shoe and was known as "Big George" and "Apache."
Former Sheriff Hal McKinney, who is related to Mr. Krotter, said he "had a heart of gold, a guy you would want in a pinch."
A martial-arts expert, Mr. Krotter drew tough assignments, McKinney said, such as the time he single-handedly stopped the Hells Angels from causing trouble in the town of Friant.
"He'd take off his gun and challenge them to a fight, but no one wanted a piece of him. That's how much respect they had for him," McKinney said.
Mr. Krotter's downfall at the Sheriff's Department began in 1977, when he was arrested on charges that he, his wife, Jeannine, and a business partner ran a brothel inside a Fresno massage parlor. The others were convicted, but charges against Krotter were dropped for lack of evidence. He lost his job anyway.
Mr. Krotter later worked briefly as a sheriff's deputy in San Juan County, N.M., and ran for sheriff there but lost because of publicity over his criminal record.
He then moved to Colorado, where law enforcement sources said Mr. Krotter was once a suspect in a murder case and in an multimillion dollar gold scheme.
He later divided his time between Colorado and Fresno, before being arrested in October 1981 in connection with a series of strong-arm robberies in Fresno. He also was accused of hiring two men to break the knee of a Fresno man who had insulted Mr. Krotter's employer.
To avoid trial, he fled to Mexico in 1982 but was captured a month later in Tijuana.
In an interview in jail, Mr. Krotter told The Bee he had run to get his wife and daughter out of the country because of threats and fears that his ailing wife would be charged with the robberies.
He later pleaded no contest to six counts of armed robbery and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He was paroled in September 1988.
State prison records show that he was returned to prison for a month in 1989 on a probation violation, a drunken-driving conviction.
He was married twice and had six children and 13 grandchildren. Five children are with his first wife, Twyla Hinson Krotter, who divorced him in the 1960s, John Krotter said. He had one daughter with Jeannine, who died of cancer many years ago, Krotter said.
After he got out of prison, he supported his family by painting houses, John Krotter said.
In later years, he told his family he regretted his criminal activities and became religious.
"He was a God-fearing man who taught us that destiny is by choice, not by chance," John Krotter said.
In his last hours of life, John Krotter said his father told his children that he loved them and that they should learn from his mistakes.
Fresno Bee, The (CA)
Date: August 28, 1998
George Krotter, a legendary figure in Fresno law enforcement circles, ex-convict and ex-Fresno sheriff's deputy, died Thursday at age 62.
The one-time arm wrestling champion and professional fighter had been in poor health for at least a decade, winning an early parole from prison in 1988 for six armed robberies partly because of illness.
He died at Veterans Administration Medical Center in Fresno with relatives at his side. Funeral services are pending.
"He was one tough hombre, the greatest street fighter who ever lived in these parts," Fresno businessman Frank Lambetecchio said. "But he also was a real Jekyll and Hyde," Lambetecchio said. "He was a good cop, but once he got fired, he was always getting in trouble."
Mr. Krotter was born July 1, 1936, and went to Fresno schools.
As a young man, he boxed to support his family, according to his son, John Krotter, 38, of Chowchilla. He used the name Johnny Vance in fights inside the ring and in dug-out field pits.
He later joined the Marine Corps and then worked as a deputy constable, including one stint for Clovis Judicial District. Mr. Krotter also taught at the police academy at Fresno City College.
"My dad was a modern-day hero, who chased bank robbers, stopped riots and helped the poor," John Krotter said. "He had it all, but the bad destroyed him."
George Krotter made a splash in Fresno crime circles from the 1960s to early 1980s.
He was hired by the Fresno County Sheriff's Department in 1967, despite an assault conviction in San Jose and an arrest for failure to pay child support.
Mr. Krotter was 6 feet 4 inches tall, weighed 225 pounds, wore a size 16 shoe and was known as "Big George" and "Apache."
Former Sheriff Hal McKinney, who is related to Mr. Krotter, said he "had a heart of gold, a guy you would want in a pinch."
A martial-arts expert, Mr. Krotter drew tough assignments, McKinney said, such as the time he single-handedly stopped the Hells Angels from causing trouble in the town of Friant.
"He'd take off his gun and challenge them to a fight, but no one wanted a piece of him. That's how much respect they had for him," McKinney said.
Mr. Krotter's downfall at the Sheriff's Department began in 1977, when he was arrested on charges that he, his wife, Jeannine, and a business partner ran a brothel inside a Fresno massage parlor. The others were convicted, but charges against Krotter were dropped for lack of evidence. He lost his job anyway.
Mr. Krotter later worked briefly as a sheriff's deputy in San Juan County, N.M., and ran for sheriff there but lost because of publicity over his criminal record.
He then moved to Colorado, where law enforcement sources said Mr. Krotter was once a suspect in a murder case and in an multimillion dollar gold scheme.
He later divided his time between Colorado and Fresno, before being arrested in October 1981 in connection with a series of strong-arm robberies in Fresno. He also was accused of hiring two men to break the knee of a Fresno man who had insulted Mr. Krotter's employer.
To avoid trial, he fled to Mexico in 1982 but was captured a month later in Tijuana.
In an interview in jail, Mr. Krotter told The Bee he had run to get his wife and daughter out of the country because of threats and fears that his ailing wife would be charged with the robberies.
He later pleaded no contest to six counts of armed robbery and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He was paroled in September 1988.
State prison records show that he was returned to prison for a month in 1989 on a probation violation, a drunken-driving conviction.
He was married twice and had six children and 13 grandchildren. Five children are with his first wife, Twyla Hinson Krotter, who divorced him in the 1960s, John Krotter said. He had one daughter with Jeannine, who died of cancer many years ago, Krotter said.
After he got out of prison, he supported his family by painting houses, John Krotter said.
In later years, he told his family he regretted his criminal activities and became religious.
"He was a God-fearing man who taught us that destiny is by choice, not by chance," John Krotter said.
In his last hours of life, John Krotter said his father told his children that he loved them and that they should learn from his mistakes.
Fresno Bee, The (CA)
Date: August 28, 1998
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