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Former Sisters police chief Haynes dies
By Jim Cornelius

Dave Haynes.

David Haynes, who served as Sisters Police Chief from June 1991 to May 1997, died Tuesday, January 29, of natural causes at his home in Bend.

He was 52 years old.

Haynes' tenure in Sisters was sometimes stormy, but the officers who served under him credit him with making the Sisters Police Department an effective, professional agency on a par with other law enforcement agencies in the region.

"I'll always credit Dave with improving the training and equipment and the professionalism of the Sisters police," said Rich Shawver, who served as a sergeant under Haynes and succeeded him as chief of police.

"He was proud of his department and where we stood within the local law enforcement community," Shawver said.

Haynes had broad experience in law enforcement and, Shawver said, his contacts in the field gave him access to information and resources that strengthened the department.

Haynes started his career in 1971 as a reserve officer in Molalla. According to his cousin Don Haynes, he trained at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, and served in a variety of patrol and detective capacities in the Salem Police Department.

Haynes worked as an undercover narcotics detective in Salem and then in Grant County and was elected sheriff in Grant County in 1981.

He went on to serve in several other agencies, sometimes in remote areas, far from backup.

"He had some very close calls, which he shared with me," Don Haynes said.

At the time of his death, Haynes was doing strike security work and private investigation work out of Bend.

Haynes was a passionate music fan, with a particular love for bluegrass and country music. He was also an avid hunter and blackpowder shooter.

Haynes' former wife Ruth noted that he had a wide and disparate network of friends and touched many people's lives in a positive and unforgettable way.

"I've never known someone who gave so much of themselves to help people," she said.

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