Petaluma's former police chief DeWitt dies at age 65

Former Petaluma Police Chief Dennis DeWitt was remembered Monday for his great compassion for his staff and the community, his friendly demeanor and the toll the Polly Klaas case took on him and his department, said former officers.

DeWitt, 65, died Saturday at his home in San Diego, where he'd been living the past eight years.

He was diagnosed with melanoma a few years ago. The cancer recently was found to have spread to his brain and lungs, said Gene Beatty, a former Petaluma assistant city manager who worked years with DeWitt at the Petaluma Police Department.

DeWitt began as a Petaluma patrolman in 1967 and worked his way up the ranks over the next two decades, replacing retired chief Bob Murphy in 1986. After a decade in the post, De-Witt retired July 3, 1997.

"He was a great man. He was a good chief, a good man to work for," said Petaluma's current chief, Dan Fish, who was hired by DeWitt.

"He was a strong mentor to me. The kind of guy telling you when he was proud of you and when he'd like you to do better, in a firm but kind way," said Dave Long, a former Petaluma police captain for DeWitt and a longtime friend.

DeWitt was born in Mason City, Iowa. He lived with his great-grandfather after his father went to war in Germany. DeWitt later lived with grandparents and was raised in Iowa, where he spent his summers river fishing.

At 15, he and his grandparents moved to Santa Rosa. He was a 1961 graduate of Montgomery High School.

"One of the best things to ever happen to me was becoming a police officer," DeWitt said in a retirement story in The Press Democrat.

At the start of his career, he was one of 15 Petaluma officers. As chief, he supervised 92 employees, including 63 officers.

DeWitt's many years as a Petaluma policeman helped solidify his commitment to the city.

"Petaluma was his home, not just where he was police chief. He raised his family there. He cared about what happened," said Long, who now lives in Half Moon Bay.

DeWitt was a former board member for Petaluma's Committee for the Shelterless and the Petaluma Boys and Girls Club. He was a member of the Petaluma Elks Club and as chief supported the start of the McDowell Drug Task Force.

Former and current officers remembered his positive demeanor and open-door policy.

"I remember him always being in his office by 6:45 a.m., so that the graveyard guys would have a chance to talk to him if they wanted to," said former Sergeant Vail Bello of Sebastopol.

DeWitt's tenure included the infamous Polly Klaas kidnap and murder, a 1993 crime that launched Petaluma police into an 11-week investigation that captivated the world.

"It was a very dark time for the department," DeWitt told The Press Democrat in 1997. "There was constant pressure and the hours were long. We literally burned some people out."

"He did an extraordinary job of leading the organization in that difficult time," Long said. "He was a real pillar to all the cops involved throughout this. He was worrying about them, making sure they were taking care of themselves."

"I knew the toll it took on Dennis. He displayed a great deal of compassion to the Klaas family. The terrible tragedy that occurred to Polly, that broke his heart," said Long.

DeWitt moved to San Diego about eight years ago after rekindling a former relationship and marrying Billie Jean Andrews.

The couple first met years ago while he was a police lieutenant. Police officers who met her and learned she was single encouraged her to meet their available lieutenant, she said.

"I fell in love with him 35 years ago. We dated for three years," Billie DeWitt said Monday. But she said she turned down a marriage proposal, fearing the dangers of his job.

They went on to marry others and raise families. But De-Witt looked her up after his divorce. The couple melded their families, she said, and enjoyed their years together.

"I waited 27 years for him and we were married for eight. It wasn't nearly long enough," she said.

Beatty visited DeWitt in the week before he died.

"I got to say goodbye," said Beatty, who still lives in Petaluma. "I think he was a great chief and a great friend."

As well as his wife, DeWitt is survived by his sons, Vance DeWitt of Santa Rosa, Navy Lt. Ryan DeWitt of Maryland and Kyle DeWitt of Stockton; a daughter, Michael Ann Corbin of California City; stepdaughters Dawn Andrews Covey of Torrence and Tiffany Wilks of Gig Harbor Wash.; sister Cheryl Allen of Santa Rosa; brother Donald DeWitt of Mason City, Iowa; half-brother Kim DeWitt and stepmother Rama DeWitt of Mason City, Iowa and seven grandchildren.

A memorial service in the Petaluma area is pending.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society for melanoma research.

— Randi Rossmann, The Press Democrat