When Covington Police Chief Kevin Klason fires up his Honda Gold Wing motorcycle and hits the road this summer he will have fewer urgent messages and worries when he returns.

After nearly 40 years working as a police officer for the King County Sheriff’s Office and 15 years as police chief, Klason announced he will be hanging up his badge.

Klason took over as Covington’s police chief in April of 2000 after Debbie Huntsinger, the city’s first chief, was promoted to captain.

Mayor Margaret Harto said of Klason, “I think we have had the best law enforcement leader in this city…. He is a quiet leader.”

Harto said Klason has led a police department that has dealt with rapidly growing business and residential areas. The city incorporated in 1997 and contracts with the King County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services.

The 59-year-old Klason joined the King County Sheriff’s Office in April 1978. After completing the police academy, his first assignment was the East Hill precinct, which covered much of the area he oversees as chief.

Klason said he is the youngest of three children and the only member of his family to work in the police field. His father was an executive with Kaiser, which allowed the family to experience and live in different parts of the United States and the world including New Orleans, La. where Klason was born, to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and Guinea in West Africa.

After the family returned from West Africa, Klason graduated from Lakes High School in 1973. He attended Washington State University and after considering a major in marine biology, he changed course and graduated with a degree in criminal justice.

Klason’s law enforcement career has spanned nearly all areas of the field. He has worked as a patrol officer, a plain clothes officer in a multipurpose support unit covering juvenile problems, burglary, larceny and homicide. He was a member of SWAT for 11 years and for eight years had a K-9 police dog.

He was a motorcycle officer for two years. Klason said he was a pleasure rider prior to becoming a motorcycle officer.

“I always enjoyed recreational riding,” Klason said. “I just didn’t know bad I was until I became motorcycle police officer.”

Klason now rides across the county on is Gold Wing with a group of riders including sheriff’s office Major Brad Thompson. The two officers joined the force at the same time and are retiring at the same time.

Klason worked as a detective for a period of time mainly investigating property crimes.  He was promoted to sergeant and worked street crimes as a plain clothes detective when the Covington police chief job opened and he decided the fit was right.

Klason said from the staff to City Council, Covington is a city that is open and transparent with no wasted money at all.

“The whole atmosphere is a team concept,” Klason said.

The chief said inner workings of a city government has been both fascinating and an “eye opener.”

City Manager Regan Bolli said, “Chief Klason has been an incredible leader in Covington and has devoted a good portion of his career to our residents. He has a love for police work and a commitment to this community that is unrivaled.”

Klason described Covington a city with “very little crime. Not as bad as many and better than most.”

Although the crime rate in Covington is low, Klason said it is important to remember what is routine for officers is devastating to victim.

“When you are the victim, it is traumatic,” Klason said.

Looking back over his 37 years in police work and 15 years a chief of Covingon he said, “If you had told me when I was 20 I was going to be a police chief I would have laughed.”

Harto said, “He is well respected by everyone in our community. He will not only be missed as a law enforcement leader, but also his many contributions to the city.”

Klason said when he rides off into the sunset he said, “I will miss the people and most aspects of the job. I won’t miss getting up wondering what’s on the plate today.”

On his plate after June 30th will be projects around the house, and calling up Thompson to plan his next cross-state motorcycle ride.