Deputy retires after long tenure

, 2009

He has written the tickets, read the Miranda warnings, stopped criminals and saved lives, but as of June 1, Wahkiakum County Deputy Sheriff Hans York is a free man. After 23 years as an officer of the law, York has turned in his handcuffs.

Born in West Germany in 1947, York started his life as an Army brat. He spent the early part of his life moving around and said he has no recollection of his life in Europe. Eventually, his family settled in Seattle.

After graduating from high school, York joined the U.S. Marines and he spent two years in Southeast Asia and another five and a half years in the reserves in Oakland, Calif., and Seattle. “There was no G.I. Bill. I needed the money,” he said.

When he left the service, York attended Shoreline Community College and the University of Washington to study psychology. Because of a family emergency, however, York completed his degree at an upstate New York university.

York has had a busy career. Upon his return from New York, he worked as a mental health practitioner for a community health center in Seattle. In 1979, he worked for King County Superior Court in the juvenile section. There, he trained volunteer guardian ad litems for abused and neglected kids.

In 1981, York set up a mental health program in Wahkiakum County. The program was a small adjunct program administered by Cowlitz County. “I lived out here and I worked out here,” but was employed by Cowlitz County, he said.

In 1986, York became employed as an officer with the Cathlamet Police Department. He also spent a year tutoring high school kids for the Educational Service district and worked as a special investigator for the Washington State Liquor Control Board for two and a half years. That worked out well for him, he said, because it proved he enjoyed police work.

York worked as a cop with Cathlamet until budget cuts forced the merger of the police department with the sheriff’s department. York was among the layoffs, but he quickly bounced back by earning an officer position in Bingen, in Klickitat County.

For the next two and a half years, York commuted to Bingen for work and drove home to Cathlamet on his days off, four days on, three days off.

“One hundred sixty eight miles, door to door,” he said, adding his wife was really good about bringing the kids down on holidays and weekends. “They liked it down there.” A job opening in the sheriff’s department, however, allowed York to return to Wahkiakum County. “With my family here, that was really important.”

Being an officer has many ups, downs and scary moments. For York, the scariest occurred two years ago. During a routine traffic stop, he was shot at from close range. The man ran as York called for assistance but was arrested a few miles down the road. He was eventually convicted of assault in the third degree.

There are, however, happy moments in the life of an officer. York said his best case occurred a few years ago. With the help of another officer from a neighboring precinct, he located a boy who had been missing for nearly six years. The boy’s parents had been playing tug-of-war in a custody case, and one parent went into hiding with the child. After years of running, the parent grew tired of hiding and gave up to authorities.

The best part of working in law enforcement is serving the people.

“I like feeling that I keep people safe,” he said.

He said his colleagues have said the same thing. People will tell him “thank you” for the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E) they participated in 20 years ago, or say after they were stopped for drunk driving, they quit drinking. The thanks don’t come often, “but you hear them.”

In retirement, York plans on relaxing and spending more time with his family. He said he will miss serving Wahkiakum County, however.

“It’s been a privilege, and I really mean that.” York said he loves this area and intends to spend the rest of his life here.