New Castle Rock police chief was groomed for the job

Neves joined the department in March 2002 and was promoted to sergeant a year later. During his time on the force, he has tackled a slew of projects, including a records retention system and plans to remodel the office.

During the last five years, Neves worked closely with Chief Heuer, assisting with the annual police budget and developing a police vehicle replacement plan.

Castle Rock Mayor Paul Helenberg, who announced Neves’ appointment Monday, said that Neves is a “good fit for the community” and “just fits right in with the programs we have going on.” He was well-trained by Heuer, the mayor said.

Athough Neves was the obvious heir-apparent to Heuer, the city had to advertise the position, but no one else applied. As chief, he oversees four officers who provide the city with coverage 24 hours a day.

Neves said his first priority will be hiring a new officer to fill the position left by Heuer’s departure and his own promotion. The department has already received several applications for an entry-level position. As for the sergeant position, he said he thinks the department will test internally, though the application is open to the public.

Neves also said adequate funding is a major concern: “We’re dealing with the constant ‘do more with less.’” This year’s budget of $948,500 is about $8,500 less than in the previous year.

With an opioid crisis sweeping the country and Castle Rock, the patrol staff recently was issued NARCAN, a drug that can save overdose victims. Neves added that “we work hand in hand with all other agencies in the area” to address the drug problem through public education.

In 2011 the police department received an Exemplary Collaborative Award from the Washington Department of Health’s Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery for its work on substance abuse prevention. “For myself and our agency,” he said, “that’s the one I’m most proud of.”

Neves has received six awards from the Castle Rock Police Department, including two awards for saving people’s lives. He also spent 25 years as an emergency responder with Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue, and was elected fire district commissioner in 2012. Outside work, he spends time with Castle Rock’s Boy and Cub Scout Pack 313 and serves on the board of the city’s CARE Coalition.

In a statement, Mayor Helenberg said Neves is “well-respected among all the business owners and the schools in the area.”