Pate to retire as Poulsbo’s deputy police chief
Published 1:30 am Friday, December 15, 2017
POULSBO — After a lengthy career with the Poulsbo Police Department, Deputy Chief Andy Pate will be turning in his badge and gun at the end of the year.
“Deputy Chief Pate leaves us after nearly 26 years with the City of Poulsbo,” Poulsbo Police Chief Dan Schoonmaker said in an email.
“Andy has performed a variety of assignments while employed at PPD, including motors, field officer, sergeant, and deputy chief,” Schoonmaker said. “Andy has made my transition as a new chief very smooth. He has imparted a great deal [of] knowledge about the city and the department to me. Andy is a true believer in this department, and even more so, in this community. As he has been reflecting on his career, he speaks fondly this city and its residents. [His] service to this community is to be commended and he will be greatly missed at the department.”
Pate said there was a very good reason for why he spent his whole career in Poulsbo.
“This town has always been very supportive of their police department,” Pate explained in an email. “We have always felt like a part of the community. That, to me, was the thing which kept me here. More money and career opportunities exist in larger departments, but I could never see myself serving any other community.”
Though Pate may be leaving the police department, his departure won’t mean the end of his service to others. Pate is currently in his first year of the nursing program at Olympic College.
“I hope to become an RN. I love serving the community, but I plan on doing some traveling in the future with my wife, maybe living in other states or even abroad,” he said. “Being an RN is much more flexible for job opportunities, but still allows me to serve others in a meaningful way. I will graduate in June of 2019.”
At a Dec. 13 City Council meeting, Mayor Becky Erickson commended Pate for his work with the city and his commitment to serving the public.
“I respect him for wanting to give that level of commitment to a new career,” Erickson said. “I worked with Andy for a long time. Andy’s smart and works hard for our community and I’m going to miss him. Bless you, Andy. I appreciate everything you did.”
At the council meeting. Schoonmaker read a letter from Gov. Jay Inslee.
“Your long career in public safety is truly admirable and you have every right to look back on your many accomplishments with great satisfaction and pride,” Inslee wrote. “I know that you take literally the notion of what it means to be a public servant, that we are bound to serve by a common creed, by forces greater than ourselves and by a belief that we are here to serve others.
“Your legacy of service is inspirational and I know that your passion and presence will be sorely missed. Thank you for your dedicated service, please accept my best wishes for a rewarding retirement and continued success and fulfillment in the years ahead.”
Pate said he’s going out at a high point in his career. “There’s a lot of good things happening in Poulsbo right now … I know that the city’s in good hands and from everything I’ve researched on [incoming] Deputy Chief Brown, it’s even going to be in better hands.”
He added, “It was a great career, I loved my time [here]. I have lots of friends in the community, and I will miss working for this town. I owe everything to this town, and I will always remember how well they took care of me.”
— Nick Twietmeyer is a reporter for Kitsap News Group. Contact him at twietmeyer@soundpublishing.com.
