When Winnemucca Police Chief Eric Silva came to the City Council with a letter announcing his retirement, Winnemucca Mayor Di An Putnam said she wished she could refuse to accept it.
“But we’re happy for you,” she conceded.
Silva noted he was hired by former Chief Don Wright as a Lieutenant in 2011. That same year, he was appointed chief of police.“Thank you all for giving me the opportunity to work here,” Silva said.
Putnam said Silva had done a great job putting together the officers and staff of the police department. She added that she would put Winnemucca’s Police Department up against any department, not only in the state of Nevada but anywhere in the country.
City Manager / Engineer Steve West said Silva was the most professional police chief he had worked with in all his years with the City of Winnemucca. Silva thanked West, who he said helped him through his rough first couple of years. He also thanked City Attorney Kent Maher for all the hours of help “working through tough things,” adding, “He always made time for me.”
“I believe the Winnemucca Police Department has the best crew in the state,” Silva declared. He said he’s had a great leadership team to work with in the PD as well as in the city. “I have been lucky to serve with such people. They all made it easy; they made me look good,” Silva declared.
The Chief gave his official retirement day as Wednesday, October 4. That is the same day City Manager/Engineer Steve West will retire.
“I am losing two of my favorite people, who have brought our city to the place where it is today,” Putnam said.
Putnam noted that Chief Silva already has a person trained and ready to step in as chief in Deputy Chief Bill Dalley. “If I left today, he could do this job immediately,” Silva said.
