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OGDEN — Ogden Police Chief Eric Young announced his retirement Tuesday, after 32 years with the department.
"To be able to complete my career as chief of this great agency is a dream come true," Young said in a letter to the mayor and Ogden residents.
His retirement is effective Aug. 15 with Deputy Chief Jake Sube taking his place.
Ogden Mayor Ben Nadolski wrote to employees that he first reacted to the news with "sadness, worry, stress and a profound sense of loss for our city and community."
"After quickly going through that range of emotions, I immediately felt a strong sense of pride and happiness for him," Nadolski said. "Eric will be missed tremendously, and I know that he will miss all of us equally, if not more."
Young started as a community policing officer after graduating in the first Weber State University class after its transition from a state college. He was appointed as police chief in January 2021, after being the deputy chief for nine years.
In Young's letter of resignation, he spoke of two Ogden officers who were killed in the line of duty.
Jared Francom, 30, was killed in a shootout while serving a search warrant in January 2012, which left five other members of the force injured. Francom, a seven-year veteran, had a wife and two children.
Nathan Lyday was killed in May 2020. The 24-year-old had spent 15 months on the job when he was shot in the head during a family fight investigation. He is survived by his wife.
"Their families will forever be engrained in my soul," Young said in the letter. "Losing them were the two most difficult challenges I faced in my career."
Young was an early advocate for school resource officers, backed mental health and peer support programs for officers, and built a team of homeless service advocates, according to a press release from Ogden.
While the city looks toward filling the position, Sube said in a prepared statement, "It's an honor to serve the community I love with officers that I am proud to stand by. I will continue to lead with professionalism, integrity and commitment to public safety just as Chief Young did for the Ogden community."
