GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – A long-time part of the Gridley Police Department, Officer Ruth Hennessey celebrated her retirement last week.

As a sign of their gratitude, Gridley Police Department and her fellow Officers honored Hennessey with lunch, flowers and cake at an intimate retirement party September 1^st, as she said goodbye to a department she’s served for nearly 24 years.

Hennessey joined GPD in 1997 as an Animal Control Officer and has worked in multiple positions since, with a departure and short stint with Oroville PD early in her career. In 2004, Officer Hennessey took on the role of dispatch for GPD, returning to full time Animal Control in 2006 and eventually transitioned into the role of community service officer, which she is retiring from now, in 2021.

Gridley Police Chief Rodney Harr said, “I just want to thank her for all her years of service with the police department, everything she’s done, all the different titles she’s held for us…. whether it was part of her job or not.” Officer Hennessey has held a supporting role in many of our favorite community events, including National Night Out and Red Suspenders Day. Chief Harr says, “You name the event, she always helped out in some way, fashion, shape or form…. She was always here to offer her assistance and try to help out regardless – And that’s a true public servant.”

Hennessey is ready to take on retirement. She plans to travel and is looking forward to a day in the very near future when she will hook up her 5^th wheel and hit the road. Thank you for your service and happy trails!