Officer hanging up her shield after 29 years with SLTPD

What does a police officer do after they retire?

Hunt for Bigfoot, of course.

That is what South Lake Tahoe Police Officer Donna Kingman said she'll be doing after hanging up her shield after 29 years of working in the community. Her official last day is April 30, but Thursday was her last shift working in uniform.

Of course, she won't be hunting for Bigfoot in cold, shaded areas as she'll be seeking sun and a life of being "footloose and fancy free."

The South Tahoe High graduate (she was a member of the class of 1984) has lived most of her life on the South Shore, leaving only to earn a Bachelor's of Science degree in Criminal Justice at Sacramento State University.

After a life of service to the local community, Kingman and her husband will be doing a lot of traveling. When asked what she'll be doing on her first day of retirement, she answered without hesitation, "sleeping in!" Of course, with someone who normally wakes up just before 4:00 a.m. for a 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. shift, sleeping in could be mean rising before most of us wake up.

Her first memorable case was after just two weeks of field training. She had located a stolen vehicle and a pursuit ensued, taking Kingman over Echo Summit to Sacramento in just 32 minutes. At that time, the CHP office in Meyers closed at midnight, so they weren't around during the early morning hours to take over the chase. El Dorado County Sheriff's deputies tried to join the pursuit, but their SUVs were too big to drive as fast as Kingman. CHP in Placerville joined the pursuit once it go over the hill, and together they got the car thief. "Boy was his upset a girl got him," Kingman said of the arrest. The suspect was booked and she returned him to South Lake Tahoe.

One of her most memorable days as an officer came during a domestic violence case on October 25, 2005. "It was one of the more intense cases," she said. Kingman and Rick Martinez responded to a call of a domestic disturbance. Donna said Rick got to the home of Susan Rizk first, and when Kingman arrived what she found was something that will always stay her. Rizk had been stabbed and slashed by her ex-boyfriend to within inches of her life.

Kingman experienced a lot since joining the force in December of 1987. She's also worked under five different police chiefs and two interim chiefs, starting with David Solaro.

"I'm going to miss the people the most," said Kingman of what she'll miss most after retiring. "Both the community and my co-workers."

And her co-workers are going to miss her as well.

“I have heard from many satisfied community members about Donna’s handling of their calls for service, a common theme is that she is compassionate, patient and willing to make an extra effort to help people,” said SLTPD Chief Brian Uhler.

The sentiment was echoed by SLTPD Lt. Brian Williams, the only employee of the police force who worked with Donna her entire career (he started one year before her). "We're going to miss Donna, our whole community is going to miss having her working the streets,” said Williams.

“Officer Kingman’s many years of service to the community are appreciated and will be missed," said South Lake Tahoe Police Chief Brian Uhler. “I have found Officer Kingman to consistently be a positive influence around the department.”

"She was always setting the right example and always a positive example," added Williams. "Always maintained a heart of service, truly an inspiration to other officers.”

He added with a laugh, "She has tased more violent suspects that anyone else, ever."

Williams said even with all of her dealing with people who may not always love the police, she never had a complaint against her made from the public during her career.

"They all end up liking her," he said. "I wish her the very best."