Palouse Officer Joe Merry sets 2017 retirement plan

Palouse Police Officer Joe Merry has announced plans to retire at the end of 2017. The former marshal in Garfield and longtime officer-in-charge for Palouse – which also covers Garfield in an interlocal agreement – will depart the three-man department, now made up of Merry, Chief Jerry Neumann and Officer Joe Handley.

“He is a very respected police officer and an integral part of our department,” Palouse Mayor Michael Echanove said. “Before we began our search and got Jerry, I offered Joe the chief position. He told me no.”

When Merry finishes in 14 months, the department will look to hire another officer.

“I would think Officer Handley will be in very good shape to move up the food chain,” said Echanove.