Former Azusa police chief Byron Nelson, who following his retirement went on to head another police department, died last week in Port Angeles, Washington, He was 77.
Nelson served as police chief for Azusa from 1990 to 1995, for a total of 27 years with the Azusa Police Department.
He started as an officer in July 1968, his family said in a written statement. He died peacefully following a lengthy battle with Lewy Body Dementia.
He quickly rose through the ranks and became a police captain in 1988 before being selected to be Azusa’s top cop. His assignments ranged from patrol officer and detective work to being a school resource officer at Azusa High School.
“He really enjoyed working with youth as he felt strongly that the hopes and future of a community lie within the talents and energies of its youth,” according to the statement.
His accomplishments included implementing a gang enforcement team, instituting ongoing monthly training for officers, improving community policing efforts and modernizing equipment and tactics.
“Chief Nelson was truly committed to the citizens and the City of Azusa,” the statement added. “One of Chief Nelson’s biggest thrills was riding his horse in the annual Azusa Golden Day’s Parade.”
Nelson was an Azusa police lieutenant when now-Capt. Sam Fleming joined the department as a cadet in 1983. He described Nelson as a father figure to him.
“He took time to develop us, as young kids in the agency,” Fleming said. “He took the time to guide us as young, impressionable policeman on how to do the job and do it properly.”
Fleming said Nelson was a forward-looking chief who was always looking for new innovations to give his officers an edge while they performed their duties.
“He wasn’t satisfied with the status quo. He was always forward looking and trying to improve,” the captain said.
“He would always push me to strive to improve and get better at everything,” Fleming said. Nelson encouraged his officers to constantly continue their education, “to do as much as you can, to experience as much as you can.
Nelson often worked 70-hour weeks, attending essentially every public event in the city, according to Fleming.
Using the deep partnerships he had built with the community, Nelson was instrumental in the expansion of the Azusa Police Department to its current facility on Alameda Avenue, he added.
Upon retiring from the Azusa Police Department in 1995, Nelson and his wife, Barbara, moved to Sequim, Washington, to enjoy raising horses and other hobbies, including woodworking, fishing and camping, family said.
Nelson learned his new hometown was considering disbanding its department and contracting with the county sheriff’s office following the departure of its previous chief.
Nelson persuaded the city manager of Sequim at the time to keep the department. Nelson was offered the position of chief on the spot, his family said.
Reluctant, but “never wanting to shy away from the challenge of building a team and an organization, and because of his commitment to the community, Nelson took the job on an interim basis.
“Several months later, he accepted the job permanently. He serves as chief of police in Sequim from 1996 to 2002.”
Nelson attended North Hollywood High School. He joined the U.S. Army in 1958 and served in Germany, where he trained as a tank driver, Howitzer operator and personnel specialist. He later worked in the aerospace industry.
Nelson earned a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Cal State L.A. in 1976.
In addition to his wife of 58 years, Nelson is survived by three sons, Ronald, Daniel and Chris Nelson, as well sister Naomi Bradford, seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Nelson is to be interred at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington.
A memorial service in Azusa will be held at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Azusa Senior Center, 740 N. Dalton Ave.
Per the family’s request, donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. For more information, visit www.alz.org.
