West Linn Police Chief Announces Retirement Amid DUII Allegations

WEST LINN, OR — Following 34 years of service, and more recently an internal investigation into policy violations stemming from allegations of drunk driving, West Linn Police Chief Terry Timeus has announced his retirement.

Timeus had been on paid administrative leave since June, after West Linn officers Cody Tadlock and Chad Jones told Washington County detectives they suspected Timeus of driving drunk when they ran into the off-duty chief while they got some dinner one evening in May.

The Washington County District Attorney's office said in early October that it would not charge Timeus because it could not prove the officers' allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.

Ultimately unable to find any terminable offenses in its investigation, the city instead decided with Timeus to mutually part ways, officials said in an Oct. 31 statement.

"It was an honor to be part of a great department and community," Timeus said in the statement. "I will miss going to the office and interacting with the citizens of West Linn. Thank you."

Timeus took over the West Linn Police Department in 2005 as interim chief after leaving the Lake Oswego Police Department following nearly 20 years there.

West Linn City Manager Eileen Stein will reportedly begin searching for Timeus' replacement sometime in November.

"I want to thank Chief Timeus for his many accomplishments as Chief of Police of the West Linn Police Department, including overseeing the construction and completion of a new state-of-the-art police station that will serve our city for years to come," Stein said in a statement. "We truly wish him and his family all the best during retirement. Our Police Department will remain dedicated to serving the community at the highest levels of service and professionalism as we begin the search for a new chief."

During his time in West Linn, Timeus not only helped facilitate the construction of a new police station — he was also accused of several other incidents involving public intoxication while both on-duty and off-duty. None of the six previous allegations resulted in any public disciplinary action and were instead handled privately.

Image via City of West Linn