Six veteran officers retire from police force Six veteran officers retire from police force (July 04, 2001)@14deck**Retiring officers have each served on the force for more than 25 years.

By Pam Smith

Almanac Staff Writer

Five senior Menlo Park police officers are retiring this week. A sixth, Sgt. Dan Liu, will retire in September. Each has served on the force for more than 25 years.

The city will promote Sgt. Chris Boyd to commander, and Detective Andrew Kline to sergeant to fill two of the positions. Six officers were hired to replace the promoted and retiring officers. The new officers are expected to be fully trained by December, said Police Chief Scott Vermeer.

In the meantime, he said, the department has taken steps to ensure patrol shifts are covered 24 hours a day. A traffic officer, detective and code-enforcement officer have put aside their specialty roles temporarily to patrol, and some retiring officers will remain on reserve to fill shifts, Chief Vermeer said.

Following is a snapshot of each of the departing officers, as described by Chief Vermeer.
Cmdr. Dominick Peloso

Cmdr. Peloso plans to continue living in Menlo Park, a community he has served for about 30 years as an officer, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and assistant chief. He is now the patrol commander. "He's kind of an institution," said Chief Vermeer.

Cmdr. Peloso, an ordained deacon with the Roman Catholic Church, will have more time to devote to that vocation.
Officer Don Heyfron

Officer Heyfron, with the department since 1970, is the "founding father" of the Police Activities League, which organizes youth sports leagues, said Chief Vermeer. Now a patrol officer, Officer Heyfron's positions have included juvenile officer and physical fitness and self-defense instructor.

Winner of about 70 police Olympic medals (12 of them gold), the championship motorcycle rider plans to move elsewhere in California, where he'll spend more time golfing, fishing and motorcycle riding.
Officer Mark Lawry

Since 1975, Officer Lawry (now a patrol officer) has also served as a detective, field training officer, evidence technician, court officer and community policing officer. He was part of the Criminal Apprehension Team during the "very violent days of East Palo Alto," Chief Vermeer said.

Officer Lawry is thinking about doing some teaching and photography after he retires, as well as spending more time being active outdoors.
Sgt. Larry Shannon

Sgt. Shannon has spent 16 of his 30 years with the department as a detective, supervising detective or on the county's narcotics task force. He's investigated homicides, including seven police shootings, and worked undercover. Sgt. Shannon retires as the detective sergeant of the department.

Sgt. Shannon will move elsewhere in California, where he plans to play some golf and do some volunteer work.
Officer Ray Gauthier

Officer Gauthier, a patrol officer, has served as a field-training officer, detective, traffic officer, administrative officer and field-evidence technician since joining the department in 1973.

Officer Gauthier will continue to fill shifts on a reserve capacity. His retirement plans might include traveling and volunteer work.
Sgt. Dan Liu

Sgt. Liu (who's retiring in September) was one of the first hostage negotiators in the country. In 1981, he was named the city's officer of the year for saving lives with his negotiating skills.

He's been a member of the department since 1972, and over the last two years has been "champion of our emphasis toward community policing," Chief Vermeer said.

Sgt. Liu plans to return to Hawaii, where his uncle was police chief of Honolulu and his father was deputy police chief.