Community service: Chief Rick Lewis’ Lifetime Achievement honored

By Brenna Wiegand

Former Silverton Police Chief Rick Lewis was shocked to hear he’d was chosen to receive Silverton’s 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award. He never expected to receive such an award. He said to his wife Pat: “Wow – they remember me?”

“He’s just an amazing man, when you look at what he did for our police department and how many different community groups he’s been involved in,” said Stacy Palmer, executive director of Silverton Area Chamber of Commerce. “And then he went to Iraq to teach another culture about police work.”

Lewis, a police chief for 28 of his 39 years in law enforcement, is the senior most chief in the state. The last 15 years of his career were for Silverton.

“Rick brought a wealth of knowledge and leadership to our community,” Silverton Police Chief Jeff Fossholm said. Lewis brought “Community Policing” to town, and in 1999, the Silverton City Council drafted a resolution adopting the philosophy.

He partnered with the Silver Falls School District to develop a school resource officer and helped institute Silverton Municipal Juvenile and Peer Court.

“I can’t think of a better guy for earning this distinction,” Silverton Mayor Stu Rasmussen said. “His service to the police department for so many years and all the things he volunteers for – he’s just an all-around great guy.”

Lewis said retiring was easier knowing the department was in good shape and in good hands. Over the course of several years, he mentored Fossholm, bringing him up to take his place.

“Jeff is just a top-notch individual to begin with … and he prepared himself as much as anything,” Lewis said. “We were lucky – I was able to send him to the FBI National Academy for three months of incredible training – and at no cost to the city.”

In 2005, while Lewis spent 6½ months in Iraq training a fledgling police force, Fossholm was acting chief, right down to the budget and contract negotiations.

When Lewis stepped in as interim city manager for six months, Fossholm took care of business again, this time reassuring himself he was a ready as he’d ever be to step into Lewis’ shoes.

“He’s doing a wonderful job,” Lewis said. “We get together for coffee several times a month and we’re both in Kiwanis so we get a chance to visit there.”

Rick’s wife Pat likes “not having to rush anymore” and time to delve further into their common pursuits, including genealogy, learning about Oregon’s history and visiting new places.

Lewis remains involved in the law enforcement community. He helped write a training protocol for an overseas state department mission and volunteered for federal compliance monitoring and agency assessment implementation.

“What I’m most proud of is that I was able to do the job that I did for that long,” Lewis said, “but so much depends on what kind of support you get from your family.

“I’ve told people over the years that when it comes time for you to retire, you get that congratulations and that handshake and ‘Job well done,’ but at the end you go home to what’s left of your family.”

The avid fly-tier and fly fisherman enjoys taking his pontoon boat to the Silverton Reservoir. “It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “It’s a little chilly right now, but in June and July it’s just beautiful.”