Walker lays foundation for future

The man who helped solve the Robert Yates serial-murder case is going into business for himself, forming a new company that will support the construction and real estate efforts of relatives in the Spokane Valley.

“Basically, I’m going back to construction, but I’m not strapping on a tool belt,” said Spokane Valley Police Chief Cal Walker.

It will be a big change for a man who’s carried a gun for 20 years with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, and in the late 1990s helped solve Spokane’s worst serial-killing spree.

Walker announced his resignation from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office in mid-October after almost 20 years with the agency and less than a month after losing a race against Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich in the Republican primary.

The Spokane Valley chief’s last official day will be Dec. 1, but Tuesday was his last day in the office.

Walker spent much of Tuesday “jabbing” with co-workers, sifting through papers to hand off to the right people and telling stories about the mementos he uncovered in his office.

While the veteran law enforcement officer was upbeat about the next chapter in his life, his co-workers were lamenting the loss of a good boss, law officer and friend.

Josephine Duncan, who works in the Valley station’s front office, said just hearing his voice and having him in the office brings smiles.

“He will be greatly missed,” said volunteer Sheryl Womble.

Spokane Valley police Sgt. Dave Martin said, “As a community, Spokane Valley is suffering a huge loss.”

Walker has become a familiar face in the Valley; while at lunch on Tuesday, a restaurant employee interrupted him to tell him about suspected drug activity in her neighborhood.

“It doesn’t bother me that people recognize me and ask me questions,” Walker said. “Really, it’s an honor. I will miss that.”

Martin has worked with Walker for most of the last two decades.

“He’s been the best example of how police work should be done,” Martin said. “He’s a natural.”

Martin watched Walker rise through the ranks.

“I’ll miss coming to work, walking into his office and talking to him about anything and everything,” Martin said. “You can’t do that with every supervisor.”

Walker had an open-door policy, and even those who weren’t commissioned officers felt comfortable about stopping by his office to chat.

“Anyone who worked with him is treated as part of the team,” said Sharon Jones, Walker’s administrative assistant.

When Walker was asked to recall his best day with the Sheriff’s Office, he narrowed it down to a phone call regarding Yates. Walker was the supervisor of the homicide unit during the investigation.

He was with his investigative team at the command post – a motor home – in front of Yates’ house, and they were waiting on test results from a sample of the killer’s blood.

“Are you sitting down?” the caller from the crime lab said. “You got him.”

Out of the public and the media’s eye, Walker said he slipped out of the usual law enforcement stoic mode. “I was jumping around, and slapping high-fives. The motor home was probably shaking a bit,” he said. “That was a big confirmation that Yates was not going to be able to do that to anyone, ever again.”