Chief Brett Vance retires this week from the Montesano Police Department after decades of service in law enforcement, primarily with Montesano.

Spending the last 13 years as chief, Vance spent years making sure the department was supported, plugged into the community and striving to be a good neighbor, he said in an interview, calling it “the best job in the Harbor.”

“My thing was, I’m embedded in the community. I want to end my career there,” Vance said. “I have support from my mayor, my council, my citizens.”

A Harbor local, Vance graduated from the police academy in 1992, spending time in Montesano as well as several other departments before settling down in Monte.

“The Harbor, Montesano, is a great place to raise your family. I think Montesano is a great community, the greatest community in the Harbor,” Vance said. “I’m a little biased, of course.”

Long time in the seat

Working his way up through the ranks of the streamlined department to deputy chief, Vance sought selection to the top spot.

“When the previous chief left, I put my name in the hat for the Monte chief. For the past 13 years I’ve been the chief,” Vance said. “It’s a long time to be chief.”

Inheriting a department that had experienced some leadership issues, Vance said his priority was righting the ship and restoring stability. Vance credited area law enforcement leadership with mentoring and having experience to call upon when needed.

“We had a lot going on at the time, unfortunately, with the underlying issues. It was really to stabilize the department. That was a very uneasy situation to go through. From there, we built upon it,” Vance said. “I had great mentors. Chief Meyers, Sheriff Rick Scott, Steve Schumate. Those guys are mentors. I was able to lean on them.”

Vance pointed to a number of accomplishments during his tenure that stood out for him. One was serving on the critical incident stress debriefing team; working with first responders who had taken part in emergency incidents or disasters beyond what folks might regularly experience.

“I’ve been a part of that team. That’s probably one of my proudest things,” Vance said. “We’ll get together. We’ll let them talk about the incident.”

Increased focus on mental health in the wake of high-impact events has become a bigger priority for first responders and the military in recent decades, as organizations seek to help personnel before that stress boils out in the form relationship issues, substance abuse disorders or deaths by suicide.

“We sit them down and let them know, your anxiety is real, and it’s normal to a point. We give them resources to be able to communicate,” Vance said. “To be a part of that, it helps me.”

Vance also feted the FBI’s National Academy, a 10-week law enforcement training program held at Quantico, Virginia, that only accepts a small percentage of law enforcement personnel who apply from around the world.

“Not only are you representing your own agency, you’re representing the state of Washington. To sit and listen and be in the room with all these great minds, that was huge for me,” Vance said. “I know I was the smallest agency in my class.”

Vance credits that same enthusiastic community support, reciprocated by officers who work and live in the community they serve, with a relatively smooth tenure.

“You see our guys at football games. You see our guys out and about in the community. We’re very transparent. We were the first guys around here to do body cams and car cams,” Vance said. “I think we’re doing it the right way. We have a great community.”

Upward and onward

Now, after decades with the department, many as chief, Vance will move on.

“I think the city itself and the community itself is great,” Vance said. “I hope I left in in better condition than I found it.”

Planning to move on from the Pacific Northwest that’s been home all his life, he said he’s unsure what’s next for him, besides some time to figure it out. Vance said he doesn’t intend to take any sort of future job in law enforcement.

“I don’t know how I’m going to feel. I don’t know what I’m going to think,” Vance said. “Time will only tell. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’m going to head to Arizona and enjoy the sunshine.”

Mayor Vini Samuel, who worked with Vance for her entire tenure, spoke highly of his service.

“Chief Vance made our community better. He worked tirelessly to ensure our safety and as importantly, he has been proactive in building relationships and bridges with our citizens, businesses and partners which laid the foundation for a strong town,” Samuel said. “His focus on community policing has created a culture where the police and respect for the law are integrated into all aspects of this town’s life. He has done good work and he will be missed.”

Vance said he was surprised by how fast the retirement date closed in on him.

“I can’t believe it’s here,” Vance said. “It just seemed like I would never get here and now it’s here.”

Vance paid his respects to the community he’s served for decades in closing.

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to represent the city of Montesano and the police department for the last 13 years,” Vance said. “I would do it again.”

Contact Senior Reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@thedailyworld.com.