Hot Springs police chief, assistant police chief announce retirements

Both Hot Springs Police Chief Jason Stachey, right, and Assistant Police Chief Walt Everton announced their retirement from the police department Wednesday, having each served over 25 years. - File photo by The Sentinel-Record
Both Hot Springs Police Chief Jason Stachey, right, and Assistant Police Chief Walt Everton announced their retirement from the police department Wednesday, having each served over 25 years. - File photo by The Sentinel-Record

Hot Springs Police Chief Jason Stachey and Assistant Police Chief Walt Everton each announced their intention Wednesday to retire from their positions effective May 29.

"We're both very excited about the next chapter in our lives," Stachey told The Sentinel-Record, noting he and Everton both have served for over 25 years at the department.

"I have enjoyed it and loved working for the police department and serving the citizens of Hot Springs," he said. "Walt and I have had the fortune of working in so many different areas in this department over the course of our careers, too many to even mention."

"It's been a great ride and I would do it all over again," Everton said.

Stachey, 45, became the full-time police chief on May 28, 2016, having served as the interim chief since Dec. 1, 2015, after the retirement of former Chief David Flory. Everton, 54, was promoted from captain to assistant police chief on Sept. 7, 2016, replacing Chris Chapmond who retired Aug. 17, 2016, to become police chief of Bluffton, S.C.

"As a leader, as society changes and issues come up, we know when the best time is for us to bring in some new ideas and new approaches to this department and the city," Stachey said, noting that counting his time as interim chief he has served for almost five years which "on average, is about right."

He said the national average for departments the size of Hot Springs is four to five years for the tenure of a police chief.

"Five years is about your max and seven is pretty much unheard of," Everton said.

"What a lot of people probably don't understand about our positions here is we don't have the luxury of turning it off," Stachey said. "It's not an 8 to 4 job. It's 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and there's no turn off switch."

"You're always, always, always on call," Everton said. "It can be from the worst like (Tuesday) with the homicide to some minor complaint. You've got so many people to look over and it's very taxing, mentally and physically and emotionally."

Stachey said he has triplets who "are fixing to leave the house and go to college. They are 18 and all three are going at once. We're trying to prepare them and they're going to different colleges so there will be a lot of traveling involved."

As for future career choices, both men said they plan to stay in the criminal justice profession. "That's what we know, it's what we're passionate about and that's what we plan to do," Stachey said.

"Whether it's teaching or whatever, some way or somehow. There is all kinds of stuff we can do within that field," Everton said.

"In my long career, I've had a lot of titles and been through the ranks and done a lot of things," Everton said. "But probably the greatest title in my life is when my daughter had kids and they call me 'Pa' or 'Grandpa.' That's the greatest title I've had and I want to spend more time with them.

"Life is so short anyway and both of us have given over half of our adult lives to the city of Hot Springs."

Asked about who might take his place, Stachey said the decision would be up to City Manager Bill Burrough.

"He will make the decision on an interim and permanent chief position. We notified him (Wednesday morning). Bill is such a great leader and he has been there during our darkest hours," Stachey said, including the March 10 death of HSPD Officer 1st Class Brent Scrimshire, killed in the line of duty, his subsequent funeral and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"We both have the utmost faith in his leadership. This department will continue on and the employees and the services they provide will continue as long as the city of Hot Springs is here," Stachey said.

"They were here long before we got here and will be here long after we're gone and it will still be an outstanding department with the professional officers that are here," Everton said.

Asked what he was most proud of during his time as chief, Stachey said, "I would say the community involvement and all the community events we're engaged in. What I've seen in the last several years is this department and this community really coming together and bridging that gap, whether it's the Citizen Police Academy, the Teen Academies, etc."

"Like the turnout we get for Boo for the Badge," Everton said. "I still can't believe it. It's kind of become the big event (at Halloween) each year."

Stachey said he was also proud of the department achieving all the accreditations it has and the implementation of new and improved training methods during his tenure.

"We've hired some really good officers we're excited about too," Everton said, noting they just hired four new officers earlier in the week. "Just in a nutshell, we've had a really good ride," he said.

"I think it's fitting we go out together," Stachey said about Everton. "I really appreciate his support and friendship. We were on the SWAT team together. Walt and I went through a lot of doors together when we didn't know what was on the other side. When you're put in that kind of environment you form a bond."

"A bond that no one can really understand unless you've been there," Everton said. "We see a lot of things you hope and pray the general public never has to deal with. I could write a book but no one would believe it except maybe other police officers and they probably wouldn't read it," he added, laughing.

Asked if he considered taking Stachey's place, Everton said no. "I've seen what this man goes through. I've seen the stress and toll it takes. You can't explain it to anyone. I told him, 'I don't want your job.' I've been happy to help him with it, but if he's leaving I'm going too," he said.

"We're not just chief and assistant chief. I'm honored to call him my friend and in the law enforcement community, that's few and far between. The trust we've developed over the years."

Stachey said he felt that at 45 years old, "I'm able to start my next chapter. It's so exciting. I'm at an age where I've done this, the first half of my life, and now there are endless opportunities for the next part of my life. Hopefully, I can do something that I have enjoyed as much as I did working here at the Hot Springs Police Department."

"I'm looking forward to digging worms with my grandson," Everton said. "At 3 years old, he has discovered the joy of digging for worms and I'm ready to do that with him."

Local on 04/16/2020

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