PORT ANGELES — Retired Clallam County Sheriff’s Deputy Ralph Edgington was recognized this week for his 30 years of service to the county.
Edgington, 65, retired Dec. 31 as one of the department’s most highly-decorated deputies.
He received a Sheriff’s Star and a framed etching of the Clallam County Courthouse in a ceremony at the county commissioners meeting Tuesday.
“This is pretty overwhelming,” Edgington told a crowd of more than 50 current and former law enforcement personnel.
“Thank you for everything, for your support, for your help, your friendship. It helped sustained me through the years.”
Sheriff Bill Benedict presented his former patrol partner with a shadowbox containing the various medals and awards he has earned through the years.
“Ralph is probably the most highly-decorated deputy certainly in modern times, and if we looked back it could be in all the history of the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office,” said Benedict, who patrolled the Sequim area with Edgington nearly 20 years ago.
“He’s been there. He’s done that.”
Edgington, who joined the Sheriff’s Office in January 1988, received two Medal of Valor awards, six Meritorious Service awards, a Meritorious Unit citation and five commendations for exemplary service.
He was 1992 DUI task force officer of the year and was recognized by the state Traffic Safety Commission in 2007 for excellence in service.
“There is no better patrol partner to have than Ralph when you’re out working day or night,” Benedict said.
“I swear he’s got ice water running through his veins.”
Edgington received his first Medal of Valor for his heroic efforts in the rescue/recovery of Deputy Wally Davis, who was killed in action while investigating a disturbance east of Port Angeles on Aug. 5, 2000, Benedict said.
In 2004, Edgington received a second Medal of Valor, the department’s highest honor, for stopping an armed person who had fired at him and another deputy with a shotgun.
“About two years ago, Ralph found himself in a very similar situation,” Benedict told the audience.
“Someone was waving a gun at Ralph and this same suspect had fired twice at a citizen. It turned out that the suspect was very high on methamphetamines and also had some mental health issues.
“Ralph was able to single-handedly de-escalate, talk this guy down, have him surrender his weapon, and that person is now alive because of that,” Benedict said.
“That goes to who Ralph is.”
Edgington patrolled the West End from 1988 to 1998 before transferring to the Sequim area, where his family homesteaded, in 1999.
When reached by telephone Thursday, Edgington said he planned to stay in the Sequim area and spend more time with family in retirement.
Edgington assumed command of the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit in 2005.
In 2009, the Edgington-led Clallam County unit was selected among 53 boating programs in the state as the Marine Law Enforcement Program of the Year.
“He took a good program and made it an absolutely great program,” said Benedict, who became sheriff in 2006.
As “admiral” of the marine unit, Edgington secured a grant to purchase an aluminum boat for the unit that was manufactured by a local boat builder, Benedict.
“I swear Ralph supervised that on a daily basis on his own time and the boat is perfect,” Benedict said.
“It is the envy of all the boating programs. So Ralph truly delivered.”
Edgington was joined at the podium by his wife, Karan.
“The one person I really need to thank that kept me grounded and going is my best friend, my high school sweetheart, my wife,” Edgington said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsula dailynews.com.
