After three years of working as chief of San Juan Island Emergency Medical Services, Jerry Martin is passing the baton over to Karl Kuetzing. Martin announced his retirement on Jan. 25; he said he will work until April 1. “It’s been a privilege to serve the people,” Martin said. “It’s been a good career.” Severance of $69,600 was included in the EMS budget this year to cover six months of salary and to pay for eligible benefits. Martin is a Washington native who was born in Seattle and grew up in Issaquah. He started at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake to earn a degree in business and aviation. He then went to Western Washington University for a year before discovering his love for EMS.