Former Columbia Police Chief Ernest “Ernie” James Barbee died Sunday, Oct. 19 according to a Facebook by the Columbia Police Department.
Barbee worked for the Police Department for three decades. He started working for the city of Columbia in 1963 and joined the Police Department in 1965. He rose through the ranks serving as sergeant, lieutenant, captain and deputy chief, and he was appointed chief of police in 1988, according to the Facebook post.
Barbee retired in April of 1997.
“Ernie was one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever known," retired Police Chief R. Boehm said in the Facebook post. "He was a trusted mentor to me and he always had helpful, wise advice. Over the many years we worked together he became a great friend. I will miss him dearly.”