HPD promotes Luce to sergeant

Published 1:30 am Friday, August 14, 2026

At Monday’s City Council meeting, the Hoquiam Police Department [HPD] promoted Dennis Luce to the rank of sergeant. Luce will take over as the supervisor of one of four squads comprised of patrol officers and a police services officer, Police Chief Jeff Salstrom announced via Facebook.

Luce has over 25 years of law enforcement experience. He began his career in 2000 as a reserve police officer with the Cosmopolis Police Department. In 2002, he was hired as a provisional officer [temporary] with the Westport Police Department and was hired full-time. In 2004, he returned to the Cosmopolis Police Department where he served until 2008 when retired HPD Chief Jeff Myers convinced Luce to apply for HPD.

Luce serves as one of our firearms instructors, field training officer, bike patrol officer, and is the department Gang Liaison Officer.

According to the Facebook post, Luce is known for his calm demeanor and ability to communicate with people in crisis. He also has an uncanny knowledge of movies and music. Luce joins his cousin, Senior Sergeant David Peterson as a patrol sergeant with HPD.

Luce’s badge was pinned on by his father, retired Aberdeen Firefighter Leroy Luce, with a large family contingent on hand to watch.