Langley Police Officer Leif Haugen has left the city’s police department after almost 15 years of service to the community.

Haugen will continue his career in law enforcement at the Island County Sheriff’s Office. He reported for duty at the sheriff’s office on May 1.

“I am looking forward to facing new challenges,” Haugen said.

While excited about the new job, he looks back on a decade and a half of service to Langley and its people.

“It was great working for Langley. The community has always been very supportive,” he said.

Even though Haugen is now working for the sheriff’s office, his services are not lost to the South End.

In his new position, he will continue to serve Langley and the island community as a whole, Haugen said.

Haugen was the senior officer under Langley Police Chief Bob Herzberg and was often left in a supervisory position when Herzberg was ill or on vacation, Herzberg said.

The Langley police department consists of three officers and Herzberg.

In his years at the Langley Police Department Haugen earned the respect of the community and his coworkers and supervisor, Herzberg said.

“We are going to miss him very much,” he said.

Herzberg said that Haugen brought a wonderful, personal approach to police work and cared deeply about the community and its residents’ problems.

“We’ll miss him, but the county gains a great officer,” Herzberg said.

Langley plans to hire a replacement officer later this year. The position is being temporarily filled by part-time officer Mike Birchfield.