NATCHEZ — On Friday, retired Natchez Police Officer Billy Beach died.

On Saturday, his family members and officers that once worked under Beach were remembering his life.

Beach’s career with the NPD spanned more than 20 years, and in that time he had an impact on people all across the city.

His wife, Linda, said that’s why he joined the police force in the first place.

“He want to be able to help people,” she said. “And that was the way he did it.”

Fellow retired officer Glenn Arnold said when he joined the force in the 1960s, Beach was working in the traffic division.

“He was an extremely dedicated officer,” Arnold said. “And he did his job well.”

Arnold now runs the Adams County Juvenile Detention Center and worked with Beach until he retired.

Beach retired from the NPD as assistant chief.

During Arnold’s time on the job he saw Beach promoted to head of the traffic division.

Arnold said it was a job Beach took very seriously.

“He was an extremely vigilant patrolmen,” Arnold said.

And that vigilance paid off for Beach.

Arnold said during his time on the traffic beat, Beach developed a knack for finding stolen cars.

“If there was a car stolen, and it didn’t leave the city,” he said, “it was as good as found.”

That reputation has followed Beach to this day.

Arnold said at a recent lunch gathering of retired officers, which Beach was going to attend, his ability to find missing cars came up more than once.

But for others, Beach’s ability to find cars isn’t what they remember.

Adams County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Ricky Stephens worked under Beach when he started with the NPD in the 1970s.

“He was always firm,” Stephens said. “But he’d give you a pat on the back when you did a good job.”

And Stephens remembers more than just encouragement from Beach.

He remembers him as a teacher.

“Working with him, I learned how to respect others in order to gain their respect,” Stephens said. “And that’s something I’ve never forgotten.”

Fellow retired officer and Adams County Supervisor Thomas “Boo” Campbell remembers Beach for a more simple reason.

“He was a good officer, and he could be strict,” Campbell said. “But he was fair; he was consistent with all people.”

But Beach’s wife just remembers him as a good husband and father.

“He enjoyed his work so much, but he didn’t take his work home with him,” she said. “And when he was home, he was ours.”