Ron Davis, an important figure in Pacific County law enforcement, passed away from cancer.

Pacific County is mourning the passing of Ron L. Davis, 59, who served in law enforcement in the north country region for over three decades. He passed away on Feb. 13 surrounded by family after a cancer battle.

Davis is well known among the communities he served over his 35 years in law enforcement, which spanned the Pacific County Jail, Raymond Police Department, Pacific County Sheriff’s Office and, over the last year, the Shoalwater Bay Police Department in Tokeland.

It is hard to put into perspective the sacrifices Davis made to become a cherished member of the law enforcement community — honor, sacrifice and integrity are what come to mind first. He was one of the few who always put others before himself.

Robin Souvenir, the county’s sheriff from Jan. 1, 2019, through Dec. 31, 2022, selected Davis as his undersheriff. The two were extremely close and were even neighbors.

“RD could be a man of few words, but his actions and heart were like none other,” Souvenir said. “When he put his mind to something, he would not stop until it was completed. He was the one people would turn to for questions, and if he didn’t know the answer, he would go find it. He was the person that would literally give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.

“You just had to know it was going to be a hickory shirt. RD was a neighbor, mentor, professional, subject matter expert, and, above all, an irreplaceable friend,” Souvenir added. “He was an all-around good human. We need more of them in this world. We lost one of the good ones. But I have comfort knowing that he is now watching over us, protecting us as he always has. And that’s how it’s done.”

(A hickory shirt is a tough, durable garment favored by generations of Pacific Northwest loggers.)

Fast to respond

One incident speaks volumes about the honor and bravery Davis lived. In the early morning hours of July 18, 2018, at 1:40 a.m., a home invasion occurred on State Route 6, slightly past the Pluvius Bridge. The 911 caller stated an intruder had just shot their friend.

Davis was at his home in Bay Center, nearly 40 miles away. He was awoken at 1:45 a.m. by the Pacific County Dispatch Center (PacCom) and informed about the situation and that they had no one to respond. Davis, a sergeant with the agency at the time, put on his gear and rushed out the door.

For 11 minutes, Davis ran his lights and sirens to the call with no backup, fully knowing he was rushing to a scene where someone had been shot. No one knew where the suspect was, and it was on him to be someone’s hero.

Before Davis reached the scene, Jon Ashley, a deputy at the time, responded to help along with Micah Ristow, a former Raymond Police Department Officer and current sheriff’s office deputy, who was on duty at the time.

The three men met at the driveway of the home, a roughly quarter-mile-long dirt road, and moved through the pitch-black darkness to rescue the injured victim and her friend. None received any formal recognition for their heroism.

Pull Quote

‘RD could be a man of few words, but his actions and heart were like none other.’

Robin Souvenir, former sheriff

The incident showcased who Davis was and how he chose to serve Pacific County — all officers have choices, and he chose honor, integrity, and bravery in the face of evil.

Brief retirement

Davis was pushed out of the sheriff’s office under the new administration and chose retirement. Retirement didn’t last long because his heart had more service to give.

He joined Shoalwater in early 2023 and proudly worked for the agency until his cancer diagnosis last fall. Davis spent the last months of his life surrounded by his wife Tina Davis, son Nathan Davis, daughter-in-law Suleymar Ramos-Davis, and his grandchildren Lucy and Luca in Renton.

The Renton Police Department and Renton Fire Department gave Davis a Parade of Honor following his passing, a show of respect for his career, dedication and sacrifices.

Davis will have a private celebration of life at an undisclosed date.

On behalf of the citizens of Pacific County, we would like to express our deepest condolences to the Davis family and thank RD for all he gave to keep our communities safe.