The Siskiyou County Sheriff's Department sadly reports the death of their former sheriff, Charles Edward Byrd, age 56, of apparent natural causes.

Charles Byrd, "Charlie" as he was known by all, was born in Weed, California on July 6, 1947. Charlie's father, Edmond Byrd of Mississippi, and Eddie B. Byrd of Louisiana, relocated to the Weed area shortly after World War II, to work at the Long Bell Lumber Company. Long Bell also had a company in Louisiana, where Charlie's uncle was employed.

Charlie attended school in the Weed area, graduating in June 1965. During high school, Charlie was active in Student Body and was Captain of the Weed High School football team as a senior. He was also selected as "Lineman of the Year" in 1964 and 1965.

Charlie worked for about three years in the local plywood mill while attending College of the Siskiyous. In 1967, Charlie joined the Weed Police Department as a Reserve Police Officer. This was a time in our society, when African-Americans were beginning to break the color barrier in law enforcement. Several agencies throughout the country appointed African-Americans as police officers, but rarely empowered these officers with the same authority white police officers had.

African-American police officers were often hired to enforce laws and police African-American communities. Charlie made it known that he would be a peace officer for all of the citizens, not just African-Americans. Charlie spoke of times when he'd stopped white motorist for various traffic violations, and was confronted with a lack of cooperation and respect because he was a "Black Police Officer." There was a perception during this period of time that African-American peace officers could not issue citations to whites or arrest whites. Charlie endured these encounters with professionalism and his notorious presence, when confronted with motorist claiming he no authority to enforce the law - "Well that may be so where you come from, but you're in Weed now."

Charlie attended Criminal Justice and law enforcement classes at College of the Siskiyous and was hired to a full-time position in 1968. Charlie was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in early 1970, and in 1974 he was appointed to the as "Acting Chief-of-Police," and served in this capacity for six months, as the present chief suffered a heart attack. In April 1975, Charlie was appointed as the Police Chief of the Weed Police Department and held this position until January 1987.

As the Weed Police Chief, Charlie belonged to the California Peace Officer's Association, the California Police Chief's Association, and was also active in the Siskiyou County League of Cities. Charlie was active in the local Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Weed Rotary, where he served as a Past-President. Charlie was a Charter Member of the Habitat for Humanity in Weed, Chairman of the Salvation Army, and Chairman of the Siskiyou County Food Bank during his tenure as the Weed Police Chief.

In 1985, Charlie decided to run for the position of Sheriff-Coroner of Siskiyou County because Sheriff Bud Taylor was retiring. Charlie won the election in 1986 for Sheriff-Coroner by over 60% of the votes cast, becoming the first African-American to be elected as a Sheriff in the State of California.

Charlie Byrd's accomplishments as Sheriff-Coroner were remarkable. He started with a department in 1987 with 58 employees. When he left office in January this year the Sheriff's Department had 132 employees. Charlie's innovative style and the campaign slogan "WE CAN'T" was not only the department's motto but the vision he had for all of the department endeavors during his 16 years as the sheriff. Charlie raised the bar for rural law enforcement and the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Department quickly became an agency with diversity and services matched by departments much larger and more financial means than our county.

Charlie was instrumental in creating the Siskiyou County Inter-Agency Narcotic Task Force. He created a Detective Unit with nine detectives. Charlie was committed to quality training and equipment. If the department didn't have it, and it would improve the department's ability to serve the public better, he saw that they got it. If the county didn't have the money for it, he lobbied in Sacramento to get grants and funding from somewhere.

Charlie authorized and re-established the department's K-9 program. His commitment to this program was incredible. Again he saw that the program received top training and equipment. The department started out with two K-9 and ultimately rose to five teams.

Charlie created the Department's Marijuana Eradication Team. The Department pursued a grant which funded three detectives, a Deputy District Attorney and a Legal Secretary. Although the funds for this unit have diminished over the past few years, the unit continues to eradicate marijuana on our public lands and seized over 30,000 marijuana plants last year alone.

Charlie saw that the department had a state of the art firearms range. He brought about the department's Special Response Team, (SWAT), and provided assistance to any allied agency in critical incidents. He established an Explosives Unit, a Water Rescue-Recovery Team, and increased the department's Boating Program both in personnel and in vessels. He implemented a county-wide firearms safety course for citizens wanting to carry concealed weapons.

Charlie felt highly trained personnel would bring about highly efficient personnel, and sent his personnel to the highest rated training available throughout the country. Several department members attended the National F.B.I. Academy in Quantico, VA, the P.O.S.T. Supervisory Leadership Institute, the Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation, and encouraged attendance at numerous State-wide Criminal Investigative Associations.

Charlie established a Detective Bureau which consisted of nine detectives, three forensic technicians and an evidence processing facility equipped with hi-tech equipment all obtained through alternative funding resources. Charlie encouraged and believed- teamwork, communication, cooperation and dedication resulted in success. Success meant vindicating victims wrong be crime offenders.

Charlie was also instrumental in organizing a number of specialized "Multi-Agency" teams to combat and investigate specialized crimes. He developed the Siskiyou County Arson Task Force, the Community Crimes Resistance-Elder Abuse Awareness Program and saw that the department was active in the Child Abuse Response Team that has since been renamed as the Sexual Abuse Response Team. Charlie brought the first Drug Awareness Resistance Education (DARE) north of Sacramento.
Charlie saw that the department had an active role in community events. He instilled a C.O.R.E. principle in law enforcement in our county. (C.O.R.E. = Community Oriented Resident Enforcement). This was before any of the agencies began such a concept. With this style, he brought about countywide Neighborhood Watch Programs, saw that the Department participated in annual parades, saw that the department had a booth at county fairs, and always had his door open to the public to voice concern.
Charlie brought about contract law enforcement to county cities that could no longer provide quality law enforcement to their citizens. Currently the cities of Montague, Dunsmuir, Dorris and Fort Jones contract with the department for law enforcement services and the department has several dispatch contracts with allied agencies. This is a mutually beneficial relationship, bringing quality law enforcement to these cities and brining revenue into to the department's budget.

Charlie brought about the re-organization and a renewed working relationship with the county's Search and Rescue Team and Sheriff's Posse, offering training and equipment to assist in the many operations conduct annually in our county.

Charlie oversaw the opening of the department's new jail and supported the implementation of several innovative programs, such as S.W.A.P. (Siskiyou Work Alternative Program), a program where individuals could work their sentences by cleaning county roads rather than sitting in jail, the D.R.T (Detention Response Team), a specialized team trained in handling non-compliant and combative inmates, and initiate a home incarceration program.
Charlie initiated several programs aimed at reducing risks to children. Along with implementing a county wide D.A.R.E. program, our department sponsored the county's Child Abduction Resistance Program as a pilot for project S.M.A.R.T. (Safety Means Abduction Resistance Training), a program geared to educate children, parents and law enforcement in a cooperative in trying to minimize our children's risk of abduction, domestic violence programs to assist children exposed to family violence, and committed considerable departmental support in the county-wide Child Abuse Response and Sexual Abuse Response Teams.

Charlie exemplified his C.O.R.E. principle in his own life. He was involved in the Foundation Organization of the College of the Siskiyous, served on the Board of Directors for the Weed Museum, was a member of the Prince Rupert Order of Masson, a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, a social member of the Sons of Italy, the Weed Rotary, Weed Baptist Church, and the Friends of Allensworth State Historical Park. He was involved in several annual community barbeques, such as the Lake Shastina Service District, fire department fund raisers, and numerous community events
Charlie accompanied several Siskiyou County citizens affiliated with S.O.S.S. during a hearing in the Oakland area with the State Fish & Game Commission, wanting to see that the county's voice would be heard.

Charlie was involved in numerous state committees. He was an Executive Board Member for the California's Peace Officer's Association and served on the POST Advisory Commission. He served as Chairman for one-year in November 1998.

Charlie was a man who gave from his heart. He will be sorely missed by many who loved and respected his contribution to make Siskiyou County a better place to live, so "WE CAN." Charlie is survived by his mother, Eddie B. Byrd, sisters Ella Byrd and Charlene of Sacramento, a sister Rose Applewhite of Weed, brothers Al Bearden, Arnold and Larry Byrd of Weed, and several nephews, nieces, and grand-nephews and nieces. Charlie was preceded in death by his father, Edmond C. Byrd in 1984 and brother Dale Byrd of New Jersey in 2000.

In lieu of cards and flowers, the family is requesting contributions in the following programs:

- Charles C. Byrd Memorial Scholarship sponsored by the County-wide Siskiyou County Neighborhood Watch Program. Contributions can be made to Premier West Bank, with branches in Dunsmuir, McCloud, Mt. Shasta, Weed, Tulelake, Yreka and Fort Jones.

- College of the Siskiyous, to the Charlie Byrd Memorial Scholar Ship Program, 800 College Ave., Weed, California 96094.

- Plant a tree.

“He was a great friend to all law enforcement agencies, certainly in major incidences he personally responsed and offered the assistance of his department. I first met him as a chief of Police in Weed and I considered him a friend for the last 26 years.” Bill Perruccini-Mt. Shasta Police Chief

Read more about Charlie Byrd on Mt. Shasta Herald
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