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Rogue River police chief takes early retirement By BUFFY POLLOCK ROGUE RIVER - Police Chief Bob Long has resigned after two years on the force because of illness. Long, 60, was forced into an early retirement because of heart problems and other health issues that left him hospitalized three days earlier this month. A former Navy gunner and engineman for the destroyer Douglas A. Munro, Long operated a steam-generating plant for Pacific Gas and Electric in the 1960s before switching to law enforcement. He served six years as a patrolman with the Crescent City Police Department and earned an associate degree in criminal justice at College of the Redwoods in Eureka. Long then worked as detective-sergeant and deputy coroner for the Del Norte County Sheriff's Department from 1973 to 1978. He was chief of police for two years in Union and one year in Gold Beach before returning to Del Norte as detective and coroner from 1981 to 1994. Long also was police chief in Tulelake, Calif., and in Aumsville before becoming chief of police in Rogue River in August 1998. Sergeant Butch Lee, who is temporarily filling in as police chief, said Long was doing well but the responsibilities of a "working chief" were demanding for anyone. "He's all right," Lee said. "It was just time for him to retire. Physically, the chief's position here is pretty demanding, and he probably handled a higher caseload than the rest of us did, being a working chief on days. "He'll be able to enjoy his retirement now and I'm sure he'll be around in the neighborhood to keep us straight. "We're looking forward to that." City Administrator Mark Reagles, who said the city would begin accepting applications for a new chief beginning Monday, added he hoped the full-time position would be filled by someone "as high a caliber as Long." "He was really well-liked and worked really well with everybody," Reagles said. "He fulfilled the council's wishes and people felt really comfortable talking to him," Reagles said. Salary for the chief's position ranges between $38,168 to $46,446 per year and job responsibilities include administrative duties as well as patrol. The department is comprised of the chief, one sergeant and three officers. "We haven't decided whether we'll promote from within or hire outside," said Reagles, adding that applicants with an associate's or bachelor's degree in law enforcement would be given priority. Applications, which will be accepted through Aug. 31, may be obtained at Rogue River City Hall, 133 Broadway. For more information, call 541-582-4401. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.