Libby police chief to vacate office in January

After a little over a year, Libby Chief of Police will be officially turning in his badge for the last time in January.

Chief Terry Watson will be retiring from law enforcement altogether at the end of January 2017.

“He’s gonna be missed,” Libby City Council President Brent Teske said. “He didn’t have much time in that office or position, but the time he had was productive.”

While Watson didn’t have much time in office, Teske, Watson’s friend for over 20 years, said the resignation didn’t come as a surprise. The 50-year-old chief who’s worked for the force for over 20-long years said he’s eager for the transition.

Watson said that the main reason he’s leaving is to be closer to his son, who is about to be married and lives in Lewistown. He and his wife want to be closer when grandchildren come around.

“It was just time to do something else, before I really wake up and hate my job,” Watson said. Already having an entry-level construction job lined up in Lewistown, Watson noted he will be paid more with better benefits at his new job.

Secondary to his son, Watson said his retirement comes from a dwindling love of his profession, due to what he said to be the increasing nationwide public animosity towards police, Montanans’ general distrust towards law enforcement and the public image officers have to maintain. On top of these, Watson also said the exasperating political and worsening socioeconomic environment in Libby has put extra stress on law enforcement in recent years.

“I just want to go to a job, go home and not bring it home with me,” Watson said.

Montana, Watson said, is the most difficult place to work in law enforcement, which has continually plagued his career.

“It’s hard to be a cop in Montana. I mean, Montanans have an enhanced right to privacy. Not that we’re looking for excuses to violate people’s rights or anything like that, but it’s tougher to be a cop in Montana than it is anywhere else in the states.”

Despite the fact he hasn’t seen the level of nationwide protests happening in Libby, Watson said he witnesses the rising level of disrespect on social media and with people he deals with on a daily basis.

“It’s just a constant negativity towards us,” Watson said. “[That’s] probably been going since law enforcement ever came into existence, because people don’t want to go to jail or don’t want being told what to do. That’s just part of the game, but it’s not part of the game I want to play anymore.”

Watson said the declining socioeconomic situation in Libby has also put extra weight on local law enforcement’s shoulders. When Watson first moved here, the two mines were still open that have since closed down. Since less money has circulated in the community, Watson said, the crime level has increased, especially drug-related crimes.

“We went from a thriving community to a welfare state. Drive downtown and you see people with cardboard signs. They claim they’re willing to work, but they won’t accept a real job. Last week, there was three people out there with signs. It wasn’t like that a few years ago.”

He added that he knows people taking advantage of the system exist everywhere, but he’s looking forward to a lifestyle in which he doesn’t have to deal with those people.

Watson also noted that the recent contention within the city government has had trickle-down negative effects within the police department. This year, he said the department had to wait for the city to pass their budget in order to obtain new bulletproof vests. On top of that, Watson also mentioned that he and his sergeant both drive the oldest cars in the fleet.

“If nothing else, it has an impact on our morale. We’re just getting by with what we have. It is what it is; you can’t squeeze blood out of a rock.”

At the age of 26, Watson came to Libby in 1992 and started working in the Lincoln County Jail. Watson worked his way up to deputy at the Sheriff’s Office, where he worked before taking a brief break from law enforcement and starting with the Police Department in 2009.

When former Chief of Police of 11 years James Smith announced he would be retiring in the fall of 2015, Watson was next-in-line for the position. Before being appointed Chief of Police by former Mayor Doug Roll and the Libby City Council, the word got out that Watson was expelled from the Montana Law Enforcement Academy in 2003 for allowing another student to copy an assignment. Watson talked about his mistakes to The Western News back in August, and, after questioning Watson, the council found that his past mistakes did not impact his qualifications.

The Toledo, Ohio native enlisted in the Navy at the age of 18. Watson served for four years in Japan, where he met his wife of 28 years.

The chief said he will still occasionally visit Libby to see his parents and sister who still live here.

The council now has four months to find Watson’s replacement.

Reporter Bethany Rolfson may be reached at 293-4124 or by email at Reporter@TheWesternNews.com.