Over the past two-and-a-half decades, Park County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Ivanoff experienced some of the area’s worst moments, including heinous crimes and tragic deaths. But as he begins his first full month of retirement, one of Ivanoff’s most lasting impressions is the way that the county’s first responders — from the Powell Volunteer Fire Department to Powell police to the Department of Family Services and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation — come together to keep everyone safe.

“How everyone just harmonizes together for the common good of the community, I’m just so impressed,” Ivanoff said. “Even after 25 years.”

The longtime deputy retired Dec. 14, ending a law enforcement career that began in early 1998. Sheriff Bill Brewer hired Ivanoff as a detention deputy and moved him to a patrol position in the Powell area in 2000. In the ensuing decades, Ivanoff put countless miles on his vehicles, patrolling broad swaths of the county at a time. He also served on the office’s equivalent of a SWAT team (the Sheriff’s Response Group), as a trainer and in a stint as an investigator.

Ivanoff was called to just about every inch of Park County during his tenure — from Frannie to the North and South forks to the Top of the World in the Beartooth Mountains. But patrolling rural Powell is what he enjoyed the most.

“This area here, Powell, it’s one of the greatest places to live,” Ivanoff said, noting the plethora of surrounding public lands. “It really is.”

The entire county, he added, supports law enforcement. Look no further than the sheriff’s office Facebook post announcing Ivanoff’s retirement — one that drew nearly 450 likes and loves.

“A lot of those people didn’t know me, and that shows you how much in our county that people love their law enforcement and appreciate them,” Ivanoff said, offering his own appreciation and respect to the community.

The deputy added that, in his long career of enforcing the law, “I’ve always tried to treat even the bad guys with [the] respect and dignity that I want to be treated with.”

With the exception of serious crimes, Ivanoff said he also tried to offer a second chance, “because I do know some people do have an opportunity to change and I know they do change.”

Most of the hundreds of people he transported to jail expressed remorse for what they’d done, he added. “Even though they may not be able to stop, they still know they did it wrong.”

That’s not to say that every incident ended well. He responded to fatal crashes at nearly every intersection surrounding the City of Powell and wound up being the first responder at several homicides.

“Those are always ones you’ll always remember,” he said.

Closing cases that involved vulnerable victims — such as the neglect or abuse of children, elderly residents or animals — were particularly satisfying, but also sad, Ivanoff said. “They tend to be difficult to process.”

“I’m also amazed at how many crimes there are that people aren’t aware of that they don’t print in the paper,” he said, wondering how many other crimes are never reported to law enforcement.

Ivanoff served under three different sheriffs and he said each transition was a little stressful. But he called sheriff Brewer “a delight” and outgoing sheriff Scott Steward “a really good sheriff to work for.” At a time when law enforcement agencies are struggling to find new hires, Ivanoff recommends the career to others.

While Ivanoff is retiring, the 62-year-old isn’t slowing down. He’s continuing to teach taekwondo and self defense and he’s still creating sculptures and contemporary tables. Ivanoff also plans to do more motorcycle and ATV riding and mountain exploring, has some old vehicles to restore and he wants to improve his barbecuing.

“I’ve got a lot of things to keep my mind busy,” he said. “And I’m really excited about transitioning.”

Still, it’s possible that Ivanoff could be called upon to assist the sheriff’s office again in the future, as he’s been approved to serve as a reserve deputy.