After serving 25 years with the Juneau Police Department, Officer Jim Quinto has announced his retirement. While the decision won’t be official until Sept. 21, a ceremony was held in his honor on Friday at the JPD station.
“It just means a lot, I’ve been doing this 25 years, and it’s a long time, so it’s time to take a break,” Quinto said. “I’m just going to rest and relax and enjoy some time off and time with my family.”
Quinto was surrounded by a packed room of family, friends and colleagues as several members of JPD took to a lectern to speak about their time spent working alongside Quinto.
Chief of Police Ed Mercer started the ceremony off by speaking about the importance of family within the department and how one of Quinto’s last assignments was working as the downtown walking beat officer because of the outstanding rapport he’s managed to establish with the community. Mercer also shared a story of how Quinto once helped a man from the Glory Hall purchase clothing for a job interview and even bought a toy for the man’s daughter. Mercer said it was those types of interactions in Quinto’s career that made him an excellent example of community service.
“Jim Quinto is an exceptional police officer, 25 years of service to our community, he’s done a great job working within different roles in the organization, from being a detective back in the drug unit to a walking beat officer in the downtown,” Mercer said. “He’s a great pillar for our community; he’s established as someone from our community who can be trusted from the police department in that perspective. He’s just done a wonderful job with us over the years with the PD.”
Afterward, Deputy Chief David Campbell shared highlights from Quinto’s career and said it was a bittersweet experience to have worked with Quinto and to now see him depart.
Quinto started his career with the JPD on Sept. 2, 1997, exactly 25 years from the day of the ceremony. Throughout his career, Quinto has received countless letters of appreciation from citizens, notes of good work from prosecutors, letters of recognition from supervisors, as well as a few awards from JPD such as the Outstanding Police Service Medal in 2012, Lifesaving Medal in 2014, for performing CPR on an unconscious man in a local bar, Lifesaving Medal in 2016, for performing CPR and giving AED applications on an unconscious man in the departure lounge of the Juneau International Airport, and a Lifesaving Medal in 2017 for performing CPR and giving AED applications on an unresponsive woman downtown.
In addition to hearing from members of JPD, Quinto’s father, Marcelo, also gave a speech, as well as Quinto’s wife Marylee. They both spoke of Quinto’s mother passing in May and Marylee Quinto said the day was especially important because of how difficult the past year has been. Challenges include when Jim Quinto underwent a quadruple bypass in January. Marylee Quinto said that one good thing to come from his heart attack is that while he was recovering, it gave him an opportunity to spend time with his mother.
“This day is just a chance to know that he finally made it safely and he’s going to get to come home every night, that’s kind of a big one for me,” Marylee Quinto said.
• Contact reporter Jonson Kuhn at jonson.kuhn@juneauempire.com.
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Officer Jim Quinto stands for a photo on Friday at his retirement ceremony at the Juneau Police Department surrounded by family, friends and colleagues. Quinto started his career with JPD on September 2, 1997, exactly 25 years from the day of the ceremony.
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire From left to right, Chief of Police Ed Mercer, Officer Jim Quinto and Deputy Chief David Campbell pose for a photo at Friday’s retirement ceremony for Quinto after 25 years of service. Both Mercer and Campbell gave speeches at the ceremony and spoke of Quinto’s integrity of character.
