Sgt. Pickett Retiring

Pacific Police Sgt. Jim Pickett announced today that he is retiring after 25 years of service to the citizens of Pacific. He has more years of service in our city than any other officer. His last day will be October 31st.

Pickett expressed appreciation for all the wonderful Pacific residents he has met over the years. He noted that when he first started the department didn't even use a typewriter for reports. Everything was done with pen and paper. Getting something wrong on a report meant getting out a clean report form and starting over. He said it was a big deal when the department got Polaroid cameras for crime scene photos.

"The City hired me in a full time position on September 1, 1992. Since then, I’ve had a chance to see the department go through the purchase of its first computer, followed by a computer network, and then computers in the cars. Most of us now use our department-issued cell phones to take crime-scene photos. And now the even the radio system is computerized."

A lot has changed in 25 years. Sgt. Pickett has seen some heated politics and admits this latest round of turmoil at city hall has been draining. He says it's finally time to hand in his badge and let the younger officers take over the streets. 

A copy of Pickett's retirement letter is available here...