Native woodworker makes memorial bench for fallen Toledo policer officer Brandon Stalker

It is the second memorial bench that Toledo woodworker Robb Moore has made for a police officer killed on duty in six months.

TOLEDO, Ohio – Months after putting together a memorial bench for another fallen Toledo police officer, a local woodworker is back, this time for fallen Toledo police officer Brandon Stalker.

Rob Moore, a lifelong Toledoan, uses his passion for woodwork to give back to the community he says has given him so much. He creates the second memorial bench for the second policeman who was killed in the last six months on duty.

“It broke my heart,” said Moore. “A little kid again. I have kids who are older than him and it’s sad to see him start a family.”

Last July, Moore created a memorial bench for officer Anthony Dia, who was also killed on duty.

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“The police department is very important to me,” said Moore. “I’m always an ‘I have your six’. The community has done so much for me and my business that I’m giving back as much as I can.”

Moore does all the craftsmanship himself.

“I have to cut every piece,” he said. “There are 56 pieces per bank. I have to cut them all, sand them individually, and then assemble them.”

Moore’s woodworking hobby turned into a business after the pandemic left his 35-year job in the food service industry.

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“I was asked by a buddy to build him a little picnic table for squirrel feeding,” he added, “and many, many of those tables later … I started a small business.”

His business, which now has over 3000 members in his group of companies on Facebook.

“I don’t have to think about anything to build,” he remarked. “I wake up in the morning and check my Facebook and there are 10 different things that people want.”

What started as the worst year turned into the best year after he found his new career.

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“It’s not work. It’s fun,” he said. “It’s that stupid old adage, if you do something you love, you will never work a day in your life. I haven’t worked since COVID started.”

It has become a love work, says Moore, creating masterpieces for his neighbors and supporting the community when he can.

“This church helped me. It saved my house, it saved my life,” he said. “It started a business for me. So I try to give back as much as possible.”

The memorial bench is an easy way to give something back and he hopes to knock on wood, it will be the last one he will build for this reason.