SNOHOMISH COUNTY—With passage of Engrossed Senate Bill 5950 on March 7, a new regional police training academy is now funded to open in Snohomish County this year, with hopes to close the gap of police shortages across Washington state.
For 13 years, according to the Washington Association of Sheriff’s & Police Chiefs (WASPC), the state has ranked last in the county with 1.36 commissioned law enforcement officers per 1,000 people in 2022, the lowest on to date on record. The national average is 2.31 officers per 1,000 people.
Data from 2022 shows a dramatic drop in commissioned law enforcement officers across Washington state starting in 2020 and persisting to the end of the reporting period. To address this shortage, Governor Jay Inslee during a July 2022 press conference, revealed a plan to add four law enforcement training centers across the state—Pasco, Everett, Bellingham, and Vancouver—to relieve the then four-month backlog of training recruits at the state’s only Basic Law Enforcement Academy in Burien.
Senator John Lovick (D-Mill Creek) led the effort in 2023 and in the 2023-25 Operating Budget passed that year, monies were appropriated for three regional police training centers in the city of Pasco, and in Skagit and Clark counties. In the supplemental budget passed on March 7, lawmakers agreed to the Senate’s proposal of replacing Skagit with Snohomish County.
A new regional police training facility opened in Pasco in 2023 and in Vancouver, Clark County in January of 2024. Although the Snohomish County location for the new police training academy has not been made public yet, recruits should be graduating from it later this year. The 2024 supplemental budget appropriated $6.987 million in 2024 and $4.968 million for 2025 to establish and provide basic law enforcement training at the three locations.
The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission establishes and provides uniform training standards for all city, county, and state law enforcement professionals. All city and county entry-level law enforcement officers in Washington state must complete training at the Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) in order to be fully commissioned by their hiring agency.
To be an entry-level police officer in Washington state, one must be at least 18 years of age (varies by city), have a high school diploma or GED, have no criminal record, be a US citizen or a DACA recipient, and possess a valid Washington driver’s license to even be considered an eligible candidate at a law enforcement agency.
After being hired by an agency, the recruit is on a probationary status and is required to successfully complete the following:
- Pass a series of examinations and screenings such as a polygraph test, mental health evaluation and background check.
- Pass a physical agility test.
- Pass a 720-hour Basic Law Enforcement Academy program.
- Successfully complete in-field training which involves partnering with field training officers to gain policing experience.
According to the latest WASPC crime report in 2023 for 2022:
- Crimes Against Persons showed an increase of 4.9% with 109,963 offenses reported; compared to 2021 offenses reported of 104,842.
- Crimes Against Property showed an increase of 9.8% with 400,304 offenses reported; compared to 364,614 offenses reported in 2021.
- Crimes Against Society showed an increase of 3.0% with 16,857 offenses reported; compared to 16,370 offenses reported in 2021.
- Violent Crimes showed an increase of 8.9% with 32,397 offenses reported; compared to 29,750 offenses reported in 2021.
The number of reported assault cases against law enforcement officers increased 20.7 percent in 2022 to 2,375 incidents.
Below is a list compiled by the Lynnwood Times of new law enforcement officers hired by local municipalities within Snohomish County so far in 2024. If we missed anyone, email a picture and/or name and policing agency of the officer to editorial@lynnwoodtimes.com to add to the list below.
Edmonds Police Department
Congratulations to Officer Eleseana Quintanar on her graduation from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) academy on February 27.
Congratulations to Officer Ryan Callahan for graduating the academy on February 13.
Congratulations to Eka Taumaletia and Anthony Carrillo for graduating from the academy on January 23. Both of these new officers are also military veterans.
Everett Police Department
On February 29, Mayor Cassie Franklin swore in three new police officers—Felipe Rodriquez Velasquez, Alisa Graetzer, and Brittani Bos.
Welcome aboard Officer Robab Gessese who was sworn in mid-February.
A notable mention goes out to Lieutenant Brett Yeadon for graduating Washington State’s FBI National Academy in March!
Congrats to the #FBI's National Academy Graduates, Session 289, from Washington state!
Lieutenant Brett Yeadon, Everett Police
Chief Micah Lundborg, Pierce County Sheriff
Lieutenant Richard Gere Jr., Spokane County Sheriff
Captain Zane Freschette, Washougal Police pic.twitter.com/zyGBpIm6Zx— FBI Seattle (@FBISeattle) March 15, 2024
Lake Stevens Police Department
Mayor Brett Gailey swore in Officer Robert Fenton in March. He graduated in February and is now starting his field training.
Mayor Brett Gailey performed the Oath of Office with Officer Lanto who recently graduated from the CJTC’s police Basic Law Enforcement Academy in January. Officer Lanto is now on his field training.
Lynnwood Police Department
On March 13, Jacob Hendricks and Dempsey Brown graduated from the academy. Both Hendricks and Brown won awards! Brown received the Patrol Partner Award and Hendricks achieved first place in Practical Skills.
On February 27, Luke Morris, Sean Kalamar, and London Conard all graduated from the academy. Morris won first place in practical skills, Kalamar won second in practical skills, and Conard won second place in academic and second place in overall performance at the Basic Law Enforcement Academy.
Congratulations to Officer Allan Renteria who just graduated from police Basic Law Enforcement Academy in January.
Mill Creek Police Department
Officer Denny Tran recently graduated from police Basic Law Enforcement Academy and was sworn in at the March 5th Mill Creek City Council meeting. Officer Tran will spend the next four months in field training sharpening the skills he acquired at the academy.
Officer Tran has been interested in law enforcement for many years and knows this job will motivate him to be his absolute best every day. Denny hopes to make a tangible impact on this community on a day-to-day basis and says he feels beyond blessed, and excited for this opportunity with the City of Mill Creek.
Mountlake Terrace Police Department
Congratulations to Officer Abdallah Alnsour who was sworn in at the Mountlake Terrace Police Department in February.
Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office
Congratulations to Deputy Nicholas Robertson (center) on graduating from the Basic Law Enforcement Academy on February 27.
Congratulations to BLEA February graduates, Deputy Grant Summerson and Deputy Brenden Reynolds.
Congratulations to Deputy Jared Howells and Deputy Joseph Pagani on their graduation from the Basic Law Enforcement Academy on January 30.
Congratulations to Deputy Lallas on his graduation from the Academy on January 23. Deputy Lallas was selected by his peers for the Patrol Partner Award in his graduating class. This award represents the individual who you would want by your side when responding to a difficult call.
The Sheriff’s Office welcomes new employees in January: Evidence Control Officer Suleyman Ozalp, Classification Specialist Evelyn Pelayo-Rodriguez, Deputy Christopher Hinrichs and Deputy Kalani Apilado. Congratulations also goes out to current employees on their promotions: Corrections Sergeant John Brown, Corrections Sergeant Wendy Cerfus, Sergeant Korede Oyetuga, Booking Support Supervisor Jodi Martin, and Inmate Accounts Lead Danielle Woodbury.
Congratulations to Deputy Hughes on passing his Field Training and final inspection with his south precinct crew in January. He is now serving east county residents.
Please welcome the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office’s first ever Snohomish County Jail K-9, Harley. Harley, a 3-year-old German Short Haired Pointer, comes to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office with extensive training in detecting drugs and has served with distinction at the Mountlake Terrace PD for the past few years.
The newly selected Corrections K-9 Deputy, Brandon Gloor, will soon embark on an exciting journey with Harley. They are headed to eastern Washington for a rigorous 6-week K9 Academy. During this time, they will form a strong bond, learn to work seamlessly as a team, and undergo intensive training on Washington State laws, search techniques, and team care. Most importantly, Harley will receive specialized training to detect fentanyl, further enhancing her capabilities.
Author: Mario Lotmore
