Mercer Island Police Chief Ed Holmes once said that he believes law enforcement is the profession that is meant to be a part of his life.
After logging three decades of service on the Island, including 18 of them at the helm as chief, he has announced his retirement from the department on June 14.
After graduating from the police academy, Holmes joined the Mercer Island department in 1994 and has been a fixture in the city sphere from that year henceforth. Before beginning his service as chief in 2006, he filled the roles of patrol officer, school resource officer, detective, patrol sergeant, personnel and training sergeant, lieutenant, special operations team member and operations commander.
“Serving as chief has been the highlight of my career,” Holmes said in a press release. “The support I have enjoyed from police officers, city staff, the city council and the community has truly been special. While I will certainly miss the strong connections and friendships I have made, I’m ready to start a new chapter in my life and look forward to slowing down, traveling and spending more time with my family. Thank you, Mercer Island, for a great 30-year career.”
During an in-depth interview with the Reporter as the world launched into 2021, Holmes discussed his life on the force and how he’s wired to take community safety and protection very seriously. He counts himself blessed to be serving a community that’s supportive of what the department brings to the table each day.
On a personal level, Holmes said he receives crucial support from residents, city staff and his department.
“Regardless of where you work as a police officer, there’s stress and certainly as a police chief, there’s different drivers for the stress, but it’s always there. But having the support that we have. I can’t emphasize that enough, it goes an awful long ways,” he told the Reporter.
Along with a plethora of successes, there have been copious challenges along the way for Holmes as the chief and his staff carefully observe the Island. Holmes spotlighted property crime as being a massive issue on the Island and it has led to frustration for Islanders and the department alike.
“So that notion of crime prevention, it really is a partnership. And just as we are doing our job, we need the community, the citizens, to also do their part,” he said while mentioning the Island’s Lock It Or Lose It campaign to encourage residents to lock their car doors and homes when they leave.
While delving into residents’ safety, Holmes added: “We dedicate resources to trying to keep people safe and their property safe and to prevent any of us from becoming victims of crime, regardless of how small that crime might be.”
When it comes to the younger set of people on the Island, Holmes mentioned that he was the department’s initial school resource officer in 1996. He has a heart for kids and is proud that the department has that program available to support the local youth.
As Holmes’ retirement approaches, City Manager Jessi Bon will work closely with Holmes and city staff to select a new chief, according to the press release.
“On behalf of the entire city, City Manager Bon thanks Chief Holmes for his tremendous service to the community, remarking on his longstanding contributions to his staff, the city and the Island community,” the city said.
A bevy of well-wishers flocked to the city’s Facebook page to commend Holmes for his impactful work on the Island. Posters exclaimed that Holmes has been a kind and caring person and a huge asset to the community, and one person noted that they appreciate Holmes’ friendship and leadership.
Mercer Island Police Department Chief Ed Holmes, center, visits with residents at a National Night Out event at Rep. Tana Senn’s home on Aug. 1, 2023. To Holmes’ right is Mayor Salim Nice. Andy Nystrom/ staff photo
