Ephrata names new police chief
Retired Washington State Patrol Lieut. Kurt Adkinson has been named Ephrata's new police chief.
Charles H. Featherstone
By CHARLES H. FEATHERSTONE
Staff Writer
EPHRATA — If Kurt Adkinson passes the background check, he will very likely become Ephrata’s next police chief.
And having just retired last June as a lieutenant after 25 years in the Washington State Patrol, that shouldn’t be a problem.
“I’m too young not to do something else,” said Adkinson, 52.
On Friday, the city of Ephrata announced Adkinson had been chosen to be the town’s next police chief. The police chief position became vacant in December 2019, when then-chief Mike Warren was named Ephrata’s new city administrator following the departure of they city’s longtime administrator, Wes Crago, to Spokane.
In the announcement, the city of Ephrata cited Adkinson’s years of service, as well as several honors and awards he received during his time with the Washington State Patrol. The city also cited “good working relationships” Adkinson developed with law enforcement across Grant County.
“He just did the best job in front of our committee,” said Mayor Bruce Reim.
The city interviewed both Adkinson and Ephrata Police Capt. Erik Koch for the job as the city’s next police chief. Reim said that while he chose Adkinson, he said he was impressed with the way Koch handled himself as interim police chief and Koch is “a valued and essential” member of the Ephrata Police Department.
As mayor, Reim said, he does not need city council approval to hire the police chief, but he said he will “probably run it by the council” anyway.
Adkinson said he applied for the position because he knows the area well and has worked closely with a number of law enforcement personnel in Grant County over the years, including Mike Warren when the two served in the WSP together.
“This is new for me,” Adkinson said. “I worked for a large state entity, so I’m excited to learn about municipal government and municipal policing. I’m excited about that.”
Adkinson said he hopes to start on Nov. 1, but Reim said it all depends on how quickly the background check takes.
“It’s just a matter of time,” Reim said.