WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah, Sept. 1, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — West Valley City Police Chief Lee Russo has announced his retirement, to take effect on Sept. 8, only a week after he posted the news on Facebook.
“It is with mixed emotions today that I announce I am retiring as the Chief of Police for West Valley City effective September 8, 2017,” Russo’s Sept. 1 post says.
“Working with the officers of the West Valley City Police Department, the leadership of West Valley City and especially working alongside the residents of this city have been some of the proudest moments of my career. We have accomplished so much together.”
Russo, who came to Utah after serving as the police chief of Covington, Ky., said in the notice that he took this job in August of 2013 with the understanding that he would not make West Valley City his permanent home.
His intention now, he wrote, is to spend more time with his wife, traveling to see their three children, who live elsewhere.
He included his announcement by thanking those he served and served with.
“Residents of West Valley City, you are in great hands.”
See Russo’s full post below:
It is with mixed emotions today that I announce I am retiring as the Chief of Police for West Valley City effective September 8, 2017. Working with the officers of the West Valley City Police Department, the leadership of West Valley City and especially working alongside the residents of this city have been some of the proudest moments of my career. We have accomplished so much together.
In the four years that I have served as Chief of Police, we have set the West Valley City Police Department on a course, not only to be better than it has been in the past, but to be one of the very best police agencies in the nation. We have led the way locally and across the country in addressing the sexual assault kit backlog. We have developed victim-focused protocols that made it more likely that someone who commits sexual assault will be prosecuted for their crime. We set the example in our community by saying that when someone comes to us and tells us that they have been sexually assaulted, we will start by believing.
We have created an environment of transparency in this police department by meeting with the community face to face each month and answering questions; as well as by implementing body cameras for the benefit of both our police officers and our community. The partnership we have with our community is stronger than ever before and our city is a better place because of it.
Working together, this police department has become the only nationally accredited police agency in this entire state. The West Valley City Police Department is now nationally accredited through CALEA; a distinction held by less than five percent of police agencies nationwide. Together, we have aligned our operations with the best practices governing all facets of law enforcement. These best practices are considered the “gold standard” of the profession.
These are some of the goals that the leadership of West Valley City and I had in our sights when I took this job. We discussed at length the time it would take to achieve these goals and we have accomplished that in just over four years.
The City Manager and I always understood that, as much as I have grown to love this city and its people, West Valley City would not be my permanent home. I have three children across this country and my wife and I have always hoped to find the opportunity to have better access to them. Now that our city leaders and I have accomplished our goals for this police department, I feel confident that the time is right to go out and find that new opportunity.
I am grateful that City Manager Wayne Pyle supports me in this decision and in turn, I want to thank Mr. Pyle, the West Valley City Council and the city staff. It has been my pleasure to work with you and I have very much appreciated your support. I have been very impressed with the management of the City.
To the Police Department I am leaving I say that you are the very finest in this profession. Every accomplishment this police department has made is owed to you. This department will continue to achieve great success.
Finally, to the community, I can’t thank you enough for the support you have shown me and this department over the past four years. This Police Department is stronger now than ever, our relationship with you is stronger now than ever; we are truly working as partners to make this city the very best it can be. I want you to know that this city’s elected officials and administration are committed to you. Residents of West Valley City, you are in great hands.
