After 45 years in law enforcement, Sequim Police Chief William “Bill” Dickinson, 66, said he has one more big goal to finish in Sequim before retiring this December.

He and other superior officers in the Sequim Police Department are in Chelan most of the week for the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs fall training where they anticipate the department being accredited by the state.

“We’ve never been able to pursue it because we didn’t have a competent facility,” he said.

With the completion of the Sequim Civic Center and Sequim Police Department last year, Dickinson and staff have pursued accreditation, which provides a review process for agencies to be certified as operating under industry best practices and standards.

The accreditation news comes about a week after Dickinson announced his retirement from the Sequim Police Department. He’s served with the City of Sequim since Sept. 7, 2010, and was hired by retired Sequim City Manager Steve Burkett over 60 candidates.

Dickinson officially retires Dec. 15 and plans to use some remaining vacation time before and after his last working day Dec. 1.

City of Sequim staff host an open house reception for him from 11 a.m.-noon Thursday, Dec. 1, in the Sequim Transit Center, 190 W. Cedar St.

Dickinson said he chose to retire in December, 45 years after he was first commissioned into the police force in Cle Elum.

He’s served 23 years as a police chief between 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.

Sequim City Manager Charlie Bush said it’s been a pleasure to work with Dickinson.

“His experience, integrity and professionalism have been of great benefit to the department and the community,” he said. “Because of his leadership, we are confident in the continuation of the highest level of police service for our community. We appreciate everything he has done.”

Police station

Dickinson was one of the leaders in pushing for a new police station, which is now part of the Sequim Civic Center, 152 W. Cedar St. Voters approved a public safety tax specifically to help fund the police portion of the project.

Dickinson 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.

“We’ve investigated several major crimes and we’ve done a lot of foot work,” he said.

Dickinson said he’s proud of the relationship between the community and the 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.

“I thank all who have afforded me this opportunity, not the least of which has been the City of Sequim, where I have been privileged to fill out my last six years plus of service in such a warm and supportive community.”

Acting chief

Deputy Chief Sheri Crain serves as interim police chief in Dickinson’s absence until a decision is made on Dickinson’s replacement. Bush said he plans to assess the hiring process after Dickinson retires.

Crain was runner-up for the position in 2010 and Dickinson said he has confidence in her that she would make a great police chief if she sought the job.

“She’s competent and has my recommendation,” Dickinson said.

“She’s been a long-term employee and worked her way up and found educational opportunities such as training at the FBI Academy. She has a more global viewpoint of the police department, too. She has all the credentials.”

Crain said she’s thankful to have Dickinson mentoring her.

“In many ways we have had a great partnership, agreeing philosophically on a great deal of law enforcement issues while having access to the added perspectives resulting from his experiences,” she said.

Crain said she found him sincere and humble when sharing from his experience.

“Working through the process and steps for our new city hall/police station was an amazing experience for both of us,” she said. “It is a great legacy to leave with helping us design and build a purpose-built, business process-designed facility.”

Crain said Dickinson leaves with the “respect and appreciation of all of our staff and we wish him well in retirement.”

In 2010, Dickinson told the Gazette in his first interview as chief that “Sequim is a beautiful city (and) it is an honor for me to cap my law enforcement career both living in and working for the City of Sequim.”

Dickinson plans to retire to his wife Betty’s hometown in Cle Elum, he said. They also have a residence on the San Juan Islands. Together they have two sons and one grandchild.

In retirement there are a lot of things he hopes to do, Dickinson said, but he’s held a job since he was 12 and hopes not to get bored because “then I’ll have to go look for a job again.”