City report

The city of Mercer Island is saddened to share that on Oct. 7, retired chief of police Jan Deveny passed away. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Nov. 3 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Issaquah.

Deveny was hired in June of 1974 and served as Mercer Island’s chief of police until his retirement in 2003. During his time on the Island, Deveny was appointed to several state boards and councils by four governors. He was the former president of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs and past general chairman of a division of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Deveny was a U.S. Marine and began his law enforcement career with the Sacramento Police Department after graduating from Sacramento State University. Deveny moved up the ranks quickly and became the youngest police captain in Sacramento history before moving to Mercer Island. Deveny loved the outdoors and was an avid mountaineer, leading summiting guides on Mount Rainier for more than 20 years.

In 2002, he was given Mercer Island’s Community Member of the Year Award for his dedication to the community and his profession. He is remembered warmly by many on the Island, with Mercer Island Police Chief Ed Holmes remarking “Jan was a friend and mentor for many years, serving as a role model for our community.”