After 17 years of comforting those in difficult situations, as well as those who are paid to deal with those situation, Renton Police and Fire Chaplain Allan Folmar is calling it a career.

Both Fire Cheif Mark Peterson and Police Chief Kevin Milosevich spoke Dec. 14 in honor of the out going chaplain, praising both his professionalism and his dedication.

“He serves this community unselfishly,” Perterson said.

Peterson said the chaplain can be called at all hours, often to deal with the worst situations on a short notice, be it a failed attempt at CPR or an accident or a bad trauma, Folmar was the one to talk to the families, offering comfort in what can be trying times.

“He’s there when the need is really needed,” Peterson said.

“We’ve asked him to give up his personal time,” added Milosevich about the strange hours and “highly-charged and emotional” events on which Folmar is often called, which can come at any time, day or night including weekends and holidays.

Milosevich thanks Folmar in particular for his assistance in two situations, one nearly 10 years ago in which a police officer was shot and one in 2009 when a member of the department was a victim of domestic violence in Pierce County.

Folmar thanks the chiefs and the city for their support and called his work “a blessing,” adding that he was called to this work by his “really big boss,” who will continue to guide him in the future.

“Its been an honor to serve the city,” he said. “Thank you.”