Family, friends, colleagues and community members came together Thursday, Dec. 1, to celebrate Sequim Police Chief William “Bill” Dickinson’s retirement after 45 years in law enforcement.

More than 50 people packed into the Sequim Transit Center including the Seattle Police Pipes &Drums group, of which Dickinson, 66, is a member.

City Manager Charlie Bush commended Dickinson’s achievements since he was hired in 2010 including helping pass a public safety tax that helped fund the police portion of the Sequim Civic Center project.

Bush said Dickinson followed the oath of leaving the city better than he found it.

Deputy Chief Sheri Crain, who was recently announced as Dickinson’s replacement, shared a similar sentiment.

“I always felt we had a class act here but he came in here and proved it to us,” she said.

Dickinson told the crowd going through the retirement process has been difficult but he’s been blown away by the support.

“You bring me a lot of joy and you’ve made it a lot easier,” he said.

His wife Betty and two sons William and Joe and their families were in attendance with Joe, a police officer for Lynnwood Police Department, playing drums for the Seattle Police Pipes &Drums group.

“Everything we are today is because of Mom and Dad,” said William Dickinson.

Dickinson was presented several items including Washington and City of Sequim flags from the day he played bagpipes last year for the grand opening of the Sequim Civic Center at 152 W. Cedar St.

“He respects people and shows them empathy and he did a fantastic job of it,” said retired Sequim police volunteer Ed Johnson.

Dickinson previously said finding a bigger and better home for the police department and seeking the department’s accreditation were his two most significant goals during his time here.

He chose to retire in December, 45 years after he was first commissioned into the police force in Cle Elum where he’ll split time between there and the San Juan Islands. Dickinson served 23 years as a police chief among SeaTac, Burien, Tigard, Ore., and Sequim. He also worked in other small police departments and with the King County Sheriff’s Office. Prior to Sequim, he worked as a fraud investigator for Washington’s Labor and Industries after retiring from the Tigard Police Department but said in 2010 he was too young to retire.

Dickinson also said he’s proud of the relationship between the community and the Sequim Police Department, too.

“If I have provided a measure of safety, security, service and friendship to those who have employed me, and equally to those who have served with me, then my professional life has been well spent,” Dickinson said.

He officially retires Dec. 15 after using some unused vacation time.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.

Retiring Sequim Police Chief Bill Dickinson, on left, listens in as the Seattle Police Pipes & Drums group plays for his ceremony on Dec. 1 in the Sequim Transit Center. His son, Joe Dickinson with the Lynnwood Police Department, played drums. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

After 45 years in law enforcement, Sequim Police Chief Bill Dickinson retires Dec. 15. Here he listens to the Seattle Police Pipes & Drums group play two songs at a retirement party on Dec. 1. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash