Medford, Ore — The Medford Police Department’s longest serving officer and the city’s current chief, Tim George is calling it quits after 38 years of service.
George was hired as a patrol officer in 1977 and since then rose in the ranks before his promotion to Police Chief in 2011.
During that time MPD says George was instrumental in forming units like the Medford area drug and gang enforcement team and MPD’s tactical information unit.
George says part of his decision to retire was due to recent changes to the public employee retirement system. The other part, he says, was simply time.
“I was fortunate to be the captain of the ship, I’m the fortunate guy, really, I’ve had a great life, I’ve had a great time but I’m looking forward to the next part of my life and turning on the fun light,” said Chief George.
George will formally retire on December first.
He says one of his greatest accomplishments in his decades of service was helping grow the Medford police department into the force it is today.
“The quality of people we hire is better, the training is better, they’re asked to do more, but overall, but overall police work has advanced into dealing with the job at hand,” said George.
Interim City Manager Bill Hoke will appoint an interim chief when George steps down in December.
George also said he plans to be at the ribbon cutting for the new police station, a building he says he was first promised back when he was a patrol officer in 1977.
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