Salem Police Chief Jerry Moore to retire after 43 years in law enforcement, 14 as police chief

After more than 43 years in law enforcement, Salem Police Chief Jerry Moore announced Thursday he plans to retire this year. 

Although a formal retirement date has been set for Nov. 30, the 65-year-old Moore will continue as police chief on an interim basis.

"He gave us this tremendous courtesy of staying on as chief through the completed construction of the new police department building, dealing with issues that the community is very concerned about relative to homelessness...," Salem Mayor Chuck Bennett said. 

Salem Police Chief Jerry Moore, seen here recently testifying before the Salem City Council on a sidewalk ordinance, has spoken in favor  of two federal Congressional programs that provide for families and children.

Bennett met Moore when he served on the city budget committee and the two got to know each other well when Bennett served as a city councilor 13 years ago. 

"He has established an esprit de corps in the department that has been immeasurably valuable to the community," Bennett said. 

"He's one of the calm, steady forces in the city," Bennett said. "He has been a leader in making sure the police department is professional and fair and straightforward in the work it does." 

Moore declined to speak to the Statesman Journal on Thursday. He wants to "focus moving forward" with other issues in the city, according to Lt. Debbie Aguilar, a spokeswoman for the police department. "He wants people to know that he's going to be working just as hard after his retirement as interim chief working towards goals."

Moore has been at the forefront of multiple major projects, such as the new Salem police station and managing revenue for public safety. 

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While it is anticipated construction will not be completed until late 2020, Moore wants to provide support and input and make sure the project is running smoothly, Aguilar said. 

The public process of finding a new chief will occur after the first of the year, but Moore will also be involved in the selection, Aguilar said. 

"I know that he has brought with him through the ranks an outstanding leadership...and when we have to select a new chief I’m hopeful that we can look to his command group and find the next chief," Bennett said.

Moore grew up in the Highland neighborhood of Salem, graduated from McNary High School and received his criminal justice degree from the Oregon College of Education — now known as Western Oregon University.

He started as an officer at the Dallas Police Department and then moved to the Salem Police Department in 1979. 

“Once I started with Salem, I knew I never wanted to leave,” Moore said. 

"He really does model our (police department) values", Aguilar said. 

"He wants us to treat people as we would want our family to be treated — that's his motto and that's what he expects from us every day when we're out on the road or interacting with the community," she said. 

Woodburn Police Chief Jim Ferraris met Moore when he was assistant chief working at the Portland Police Bureau. They have known each other for decades. 

In 2011, Ferraris retired from the police bureau to take a job working for Moore as a deputy police chief at the Salem Police Department. "I actually left on a Friday and Jerry swore me in the following Monday," Ferraris said. 

"Jerry is a gentle soul, but you know he's in charge," Ferraris said. "He's one of the best bosses I've ever worked for. He believes in his people, gives them a lot of room to do their job, he trusts them. But...you've got to deliver."

"One of Jerry's strengths is developing people,"  he said. "He makes it clear he believes in them...he gives them opportunity and room to succeed, but he also gives them room to fall down and fail, to take a risk, to try different things.

"He's like the athletic team coach; he picks you up and dusts you off and sends you back in the game...and you learn from your mistakes and you move forward," Ferraris said.

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The police department had 180 sworn officers when Moore was appointed in 2005. Today, the department has 189 sworn officers.

In 2015, Moore was honored with the “Chiefs of Police” award by the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) conference – an award presented to members who have provided exemplary service and support to OACP and displayed a commitment to mentoring others in an organization.

“We don’t have in this community issues with the police that you'll hear about in other places," Bennett said. "It shows up over the years in the community's attitude towards police departments. (Salem Police Department) is tremendously respected by the community...and genuinely liked."

July marked his 43rd year in Oregon law enforcement. His retirement was announced on his 14th anniversary of becoming Salem's chief of police. 

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodwort@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-399-6884 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth

Virginia Barreda is the breaking news reporter with the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at 503-399-6657 or at vbarreda@statesmanjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2.