Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Latin Retires From PPD

Possibly no one was more surprised than Willie Latin at the number of people who showed up to wish him well.

Latin, the former chief of the Prescott Police Department, officially retired Wednesday, Jan. 29, with a reception held in his honor at the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce Office.

The Chamber office wasn't large enough to handle the crowd, as well-wishers packed in to say farewell to Latin after 27 years of service on the PPD. Latin was chief of the department for the last 10 years, being appointed after Chief Gary Gray died.

The cake for the occasion was decorated in an outdoor motif, as Latin plans to do some hunting and fishing during his retirement.

Latin, who has always been quiet and soft spoken, was dumbfounded at the number of people who came in and out of the Chamber offices, all telling him how he would be missed and wishing him well for the future.

In his farewell talk, Latin said the past 27 years have been good ones and he left with few regrets. One of these regrets, though, is the Chester Hooker murder case. It was one Latin wanted to solve before leaving office.

Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor praised Latin for his years of service to the community. Taylor presented Latin with a plaque commemorating his time as an officer, a gold watch and his service weapon.

Law enforcement officials from across Southwest Arkansas came to the party to wish Latin well and tell him how much they enjoyed working with him and how he would be missed.