After nearly 16 years with the Hoquiam Police Department (HPD) and 34 years of law enforcement service in Grays Harbor County, HPD Chief of Police Jeff Myers will retire this summer.
Myers was named Chief of Police for Hoquiam by former Mayor Jack Durney in 2006. His last day will be June 30, 2022, with retirement on July 1, 2022, according to a letter from Myers to Hoquiam Mayor Ben Winkleman on Tuesday, March 8.
“The decision to retire has been weighing most heavily on my mind and I have lost a great deal of sleep. It has been very emotional to make this announcement. The members of HPD are my work family — many of the ‘kids’ I have recently hired are actually younger than my own two sons,” said Myers in a post on the HPD Facebook page on Tuesday, March 15. “I want nothing but the best for all of my work family. I deeply care about Hoquiam and have been proud to live and work here — Hometown Hoquiam is a real thing. It will certainly not be easy to say goodbye.”
Myers has always always been ahead of the curve, having served as a reserve officer for the Oakville Police Department, a deputy sheriff for Grays Harbor, and the deputy chief for the Montesano Police Department before becoming chief at HPD at only 37 years old.
“It can be difficult here, but there’s never been a limit to what you can accomplish if you’re willing to put in the work. That’s what I love about the Harbor,” said Myers in a phone call with The Daily World on Friday, March 18.
Myers has worked at the state level on criminal justice training and accountability, and participated in the state legislative process by providing his perspective on bills related to state law enforcement operations.
He has also been an active member of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs for 24 years, and has served as an appointed Commissioner on the Criminal Justice Training Commission for 13 years, with the last 10 years serving as Chair. June 30, 2022, happens to be the last day of his term as Commissioner, and for Myers, it seemed as though the stars were aligning for him to finally set an official retirement date.
He hopes to spend more time with family and friends, especially his granddaughters, following his retirement.
“We have accomplished so much together — not because of the size of our department — but because of the size of our hearts and our dedication to community policing. We hire and retain the best, and it shows every single day. HPD is small but mighty,” he said.
While HPD will work to transition to new leadership in anticipation of Myers’ retirement, the legacy of his work within the department will continue.
“Going forward, I know our department is well set for success. Not only have we hired and retained the best, but we have up-to-date policies and procedures; modern vehicles and equipment; robust ongoing professional training; three-time accreditation by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs; reopened the City Jail (which was a goal in the Hometown Hoquiam plan), including new female cell block; added a grant-funded ‘behavioral health; navigator to serve Hoquiam, Aberdeen and Cosmopolis; and have now secured a grant to provide MOUD treatment in the City Jail with a second navigator position specializing in ‘substance use disorder’,” stated Myers in his letter.
Myers will spend his final day on the job with HPD’s newest patrol officer Izzy Fernandez following his graduation from the 20-week Basic Law Enforcement Academy in Burien.
“I always call in and out at the beginning of every shift,” said Myers to The Daily World. “I like to think I lead from the front, and that last radio call out is going to be a very emotional one.”
