Eureka Police Chief Steve Watson Announces Retirement

EPD Chief Steve Watson at a June 2020 press conference. [Photo by Mark McKenna]

Today, Police Chief Steve Watson notified City Manager Slattery that he would be retiring from Eureka Police Department at the end of November 2021. Chief Watson has served the local community as part of the EPD since 2005 and was appointed Chief of Police in 2017.

In his over four years as Eureka’s Chief of Police, Chief Watson has emphasized relationship-based policing, community engagement, and building deeper partnerships, understanding, and trust. One of his highest priorities has been successfully strengthening police-community relations. Chief Watson has been a progressive, innovative, and creative problem-solver. Advocating tirelessly on their behalf, Chief Watson has worked hard to take care of the men and women of EPD and prioritize employee wellness, improved working conditions, new technologies, better equipment and training, wholistic officer safety, retention, and recruitment. In the interest of earning and safeguarding the public’s trust, he also increased transparency and accountability within the police department and its interactions with the community.

Chief Watson’s integrity, steadfast leadership, and commitment to the safety of our community were notable throughout the many unprecedented crises our community and country have faced during the past two years.

Chief Watson provided the following statement to the Manager and City Council:

I’ve had the honor of being a full-time law enforcement officer for over 24 years, starting my career with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office in 1997. I also proudly served in the U.S. Army for three years, so I’ve been serving my country and my community nonstop for over 27 years. It is thus with a feeling of bittersweet peace that I announce my upcoming retirement. While my fire has not diminished, it is time for me to take a restful step back and reflect with pride on a career well spent, even as I look forward with enthusiasm to the next adventure. I plan first to take some time to be more present with my amazing family, travel, teach, and finish my graduate degree.

My over 16 ½ years serving the Eureka community has been a great privilege and the highlight of a long career in public service. I genuinely love this community and could not be prouder of the dedicated men and women of the Eureka Police Department. It has been an honor to lead and work beside them. Their daily service, sacrifices, resiliency, and accomplishments are

inspirational, and they deserve our full support, respect, and appreciation. A strong foundation

for the department’s future has been built, and I look forward to watching EPD continue to blossom into our region’s premier, community-oriented law enforcement agency.

Policing is a shared community responsibility that is all about relationships at its heart. I want to take a moment to thank the many people who have shown the Eureka Police Department, my family, and me so much support and encouragement over the years. I cherish your friendship and will never forget you. In the demanding profession of law enforcement, we must recognize “our families serve too.” I especially want to thank my wife and children for “loaning” their loved one to public service for so many years. Now it’s their turn.

In closing, when I became Chief, I echoed Coach Lou Holtz and asked the following of EPD: Do 

what’s right, do the best you can, and treat others the way you’d like to be treated. I have striven to lead by example, and I move forward with the sureness I lived and led by these principles.

Eureka, it has been a blessing and an honor to be your Chief of Police. Thank you for the opportunity.

All the best, Chief Steve Watson

“Chief Watson has led the City of Eureka’s Police force through several years of important transition and we are thankful for his service,” City Manager Miles Slattery said. “We will announce details of the recruitment for a new Chief in the days ahead and expect that this search will help us bring additional resources and opportunity to the many men and women who tirelessly serve our community as part of the EPD every single day.”

20211027_Watson Accomplishments and Career Highlights

EPD 21st Century Policing Report to the Community -final version – Copy (002)