Police Chief Swan is Honored MVD Employee, Veteran of Labor, etc.

[Simon]

While visiting a local high school, I noticed a photo on alumni wall of fame which didn't look right. The lowest badge on a right side is Honored NKVD or MVD Employee. One of the medals is "50th Anniversary of Victory". A quick research on google resulted in a second photo and a biography, excerpt from which follows.
"Chief Swan is the recipient of such awards as ... and Veteran of Labor Medal from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; ... Medal of Excellence in Service to Russia 1 & 2 Order; ... Medal of Yuri Gagarin; and Medal Freedom of Russia. The latter was presented by President Boris Yeltsin's representative. Swan was also awarded the List of Honor by the Ministry of the Interior of Russia for saving the lives of three Russian citizens in 1993."
Any comments or ideas?

[CtahhR]

Veteran of Labour? How is he old enough to have been a veteran 20 years ago? This seems rather fishy to me... Ronald Swan doesn't sound very Soviet to me. Unless some rather impressive documentation turns up it just seems like fancy dress to me. Maybe because the Americans haven't been handing out the awards?

[desantnik]

Yes, I agree - this stinks. In his defense, however, I've been witness to well-meaning Russians unofficially giving badges, Umalotovas (if these can be "officially" given), etc., usually after the consumption of alcohol. I know an American given a Soviet Comsomol shock-worker badge merely for participating in a volleyball game in either '89 or '90.

This guy's particular choice of decorations is extremely suspicious, however.

[CtahhR]

From what I can get from one source which may be real or not is that Mr. Swan first went to Russia in either 90 or 91. How in this time frame could he be awarded 15, 20 and veteran service awards? The more I think about this the more surreal it feels to me. Wouldn't you get the Lifesaving Medal for lifesaving not the Medal For Merits To The Fatherland? and wouldn't either or both of them be numbered and researchable if real? I have also not found any reports of him in any way shape or form in Cyrillic.

[Simon]

Originally Posted by CtahhR

From what I can get from one source which may be real or not is that Mr. Swan first went to Russia in either 90 or 91. How in this time frame could he be awarded 15, 20 and veteran service awards? The more I think about this the more surreal it feels to me. Wouldn't you get the Lifesaving Medal for lifesaving not the Medal For Merits To The Fatherland? and wouldn't either or both of them be numbered and researchable if real? I have also not found any reports of him in any way shape or form in Cyrillic.

He couldn't have served for 20 years in Soviet power ministries AND worked at an American university PD for nearly 30 years.

[CtahhR]

Indeed. The more you think about it the more it turns into a faerietale. It is not impossible that he got a medal or medal and a badge but an entire chest? If the first time he was in the Soviet Union was 90 or 91 it's not possible to even qualify for the lowest class of service. Why would the Soviet Union allow a Chicago University Policeman join their MVD? I'm sure it wouldn't be impossible for someone at that side of the pond to track the fellow down to see what he has to say.

[Simon]

Originally Posted by desantnik

Yes, I agree - this stinks. In his defense, however, I've been witness to well-meaning Russians unofficially giving badges, Umalotovas (if these can be "officially" given), etc., usually after the consumption of alcohol. I know an American given a Soviet Comsomol shock-worker badge merely for participating in a volleyball game in either '89 or '90.

This guy's particular choice of decorations is extremely suspicious, however.

Thank you for shedding some light. My initial reaction was that this guy is fake to the core. He graduated high school in 1963. To truly deserve his medals, he would have to have worked for decades in USSR (Veteran of Labor), be either a veteran of or defense industry worker during GPW or concentration camp survivor (50th Anniversary of Victory), have served in Soviet Armed Forces, MVD or KGB for 20 years (Irreproachable Service 1st, 2nd, 3rd classes).
While he had supposedly had such a lengthy career in USSR, we know from an online article that "After nearly three decades leading the Illinois State University Police Department, Chief Ron Swan is retiring in November." Maybe he simply fell victim to Russians who played a cruel joke on him.

[CtahhR]

Maybe the Russian Embassy in the US needs contacting so they can either "confirm" or "control" the situation.