What started out as a ceremony for a newly hired Ocean Shores Police officer suddenly turned into a standing ovation honoring the service of longtime Police Chief Mike Styner.

Styner’s retirement after 35 years was announced by Mayor Crystal Dingler during Monday night’s City Council meeting.

“This week he gave notice of his retirement, and will be finishing up at the end of March,” Dingler announced. “I want to say what a pleasure it has been to serve with him.”

Styner will be replaced by Deputy Police Chief Neccie Logan, who has been with the department since November 2014 and accepted the Chief’s position when offered by Dingler.

Before coming to Ocean Shores, Logan was the Wapato Police Department’s assistant chief in the town located in the Yakima Valley.

At Watpato, Logan had served as a patrol officer, school resource officer, sergeant, assistant chief and as acting chief of police in Wapato. Logan has a BA in Criminal Justice and an AA in Liberal Arts. In addition, she has completed the Northwest Law Enforcement Executive Command College and possesses both supervisory and middle management certification through the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission. Logan is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy.

J.J. Justman, a former Mount Rainier guide, was the new officer to be announced. The Wisconsin native has a bachelors and masters degree and served as a mountain guide in Ashford, leading expeditions for 18 years. He has twice climbed to the summit of Mount Everest.

“I’m not quite sure how he made the big jump from being a professional mountaineer to being a police officer, but we are very happy he did that,” Logan said. She noted that Justman graduated from the Criminal Justice Training Academy on Feb. 14 and started his first day in Ocean Shores on Monday.

It was likely the last badge pinned on a new recruit by Styner.