LAKEPORT, Calif. – A longtime Lakeport Police Department member has died.

William V. “Bill” Mooney of Lucerne died on Wednesday, June 13.

Mooney had spent 16 years working the Lakeport Police Department as its property and evidence officer.

His knowledge, organizational skills and dedication would eventually earn him respect around the county and beyond, and see him take up additional assignments.

Mooney was one of the finest property and evidence officers in California “and truly the best we ever worked with in our agency,” Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said.

“Bill's reputation with the California Association for Property & Evidence (CAPE) was unparalleled and he had the highest degree of respect from other property and evidence officers throughout California,” said Rasmussen. “He was often asked to and did assist other law enforcement agencies with property and evidence issues. Bill provided a great service to law enforcement and the community and will be missed by many.”

Mooney came to the Lakeport Police Department on Jan. 4, 1995, as a volunteer through the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, the agency reported.

He was assigned to the department's property and evidence function, as it had been neglected for many years, was in disarray and had not procedures in place for organization, according to a department statement on Mooney's accomplishments compiled by his Lakeport Police colleagues.

His organizational skills, perseverance and commitment transformed the property and evidence function into a first-class facility, according to the agency's report. As a result, Mooney quickly earned the respect of the entire law enforcement community because of his knowledge and dedication to  this task he had been given.

Mooney continually sought out training classes and conferences, and had membership in several professional organizations for networking within the field. His knowledge of his field, and his professionalism, made him a valued member of the Lakeport Police Department.

His reputation quickly spread throughout the law enforcement community. In April of 1997 Mooney was asked by the Lake County Narcotics Task Force to be their evidence custodian/technician.

He specialized in the complex legal mandates governing the narcotics field. Mooney's property room was consistently rated as an outstanding example of how property and evidence should be handled when audited by the California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement.

His position with the task force came to an end in March 2009, when they were forced to disband due to lack of state funding, the department reported.

In September 1999, then-Lakeport Police Chief Tom Engstrom proposed to the Lakeport City Council
that Mooney be granted a paid position with the department.

At that time Chief Engstrom reported that Bill had donated 5,570 hours of his time to the department, and that was the time that had actually been documented.

The position was granted. However, the agency reported that Mooney continued to volunteer many hours of his personal time, doing whatever necessary to complete the task at hand.

In December 2011, Mooney was named “Officer of the Year” and recognized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2015-Lakeport, as Lake County News has reported.

“Bill’s position was vital to our agency, and his knowledge and expertise prevented any liability issues,” his police colleagues said in a Thursday statement. “Bill had utmost integrity and professionalism. His work ethic and dedication to the mission of this agency were unparalleled. Bill served as a rare example of true and selfless community service.”

Mooney is survived by his wife, Eva, as well as children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family.

Services will be private, but the community is invited to sign the guest book for Mooney's family at http://www.jonesmortuary.com/ .