News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Retired Michigan State Police detective Steve Harshberger, left, chats with former Alpena police chief Joel Jett. Jett retired late last month and an open house was held on Thursday at Alpena City Hall to honor him.

ALPENA — When Joel Jett accepted a job as police officer in Alpena in 1990, he didn’t know for sure how long he would remain on the local police force before moving on.

Thirty-two years later — many of those years as police chief — Jett has retired from the Alpena Police Department and handed the reins to newly anointed Chief Eric Hamp.

Jett said he was eligible to retire several years ago, but his passion for his work and the camaraderie he has with his staff and residents, as well as the fun and excitement at work, led to him delaying his retirement.

Jett said the love for his job, his coworkers, and the pride he has in helping to keep the community safe kept him around for 32 years.

He said the years have gone by quickly and he admitted the reality of not having to put on his uniform and report to work still hasn’t settled in.

He said he intends to remain in Alpena, but intends to travel some.

“It flew by,” Jett said of his time with the department. “When I first got here, I didn’t know if this would be my longterm home, but one year turned into five years, five years into 20, and 20 years into 30. Alpena is my home now.”

Over the decades, Jett said he had the privilege to work with many people and teamed up with many other law enforcement officials to solve crimes and keep the community safe. He said retired detectives Larry Thomson and Steve Harshberger are two of many police officers with whom he worked elbow to elbow to investigate and solve cases.

Since he was named chief, Jett said he began a succession plan to prepare someone to eventually replace himself. He also dedicated himself to hiring the best people to fill out a staff that he describes as decent and full of integrity.

Jett said he believes he has done that and he is proud of the Alpena Police Department team.

“We can train people to be officers, but you can’t train someone to be decent and to have passion,” Jett said. “I have no illusions that when I walk out this door for the last time, that the team will stumble and fall. This is a well-oiled machine down here, and they will keep soldiering along.”

Jett said Hamp has been ready to assume the role as chief for some time and he added the people in Alpena should know that the department is in good hands moving forward. He said not only is Hamp a great police officer, but just as good a person.

“He is one of the most capable individuals I know, and, not only that, he is one of the decent men I know,” Jett said. “I feel very good turning the helm over to now Chief Hamp. He is not only a fine officer, but also a very good friend.”

Jett intended to retire later this month, but a change in the way his retirement benefits from the city are calculated made it more beneficial to do so earlier.

He said being recognized at the Alpena Municipal Council meeting on Tuesday and being the guest of honor at an open house at City Hall on Thursday was nice, because those events afforded him the opportunity to visit with current and former coworkers, as well as friends and family.

Because Jett has committed himself to protecting and serving his community and faced dangerous and heinous situations, he was asked if he considers himself a hero.

He humbly quoted highly decorated Army veteran Dick Winters as his response.

“‘I’m not a hero, but I have served in a company full of them,'” Jett said.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.