Chief goes 10-42 at end of October

“It is good to have a mayor and council that doesn’t try to second guess you. And having Chuck for mayor, as he was a former police chief, that was great,” Clay Warnstaff, Oroville Chief of Police

OROVILLE – After seven years as Oroville’s Police Chief, R. Clay Warnstaff announced his intention of retiring as of Oct. 31.

Chief Warnstaff made the announcement in a short letter to Mayor Chuck Spieth and at the last city council meeting.

“You’ve done so much for the city, what can I say, when you’ve gotta move on, you’ve gotta move on,” said Mayor Spieth.

Warnstaff had nothing but praise for the mayor and council’s support of his efforts over the years.

“It is good to have a mayor and council that doesn’t try to second guess you. And having Chuck for mayor, as he was a former police chief, that was great,” said the police chief.

He went on to thank the council for making his time “really easy” and giving him the freedom to do what he wanted to make things work.

“The cooperation between the mayor and city council is outstanding… everyone worked well together,” he said.

Mayor Spieth had appointed Warnstaff the police chief in August of 2008. He had been serving as interim police chief after then Chief, Randy Wheat, was diagnosed with cancer and while he was undergoing treatment. Wheat later succumbed to the disease and the mayor asked Warnstaff to remain in the interim position until a final decision was made on who would be chief.

Warnstaff will be retiring at the same time as City Clerk/Treasurer Kathy Jones, who has worked for the city for 40 years. While Jones’ position has been filled by Joanne Denney, Warnstaff said he did not know yet who would be taking his place.