2023 Chief for a Day

Grant County youth honored by emergency responders.

EPHRATA — There were some very excited kids in uniform Thursday afternoon outside the Grant County Courthouse. “This is Chief Jesus Flores from the Royal City Police Department,” said Rey Rodriguez, who serves as Royal City’s police chief on all the other days. “He’s a second grader, attends Red Rock Elementary. He likes to color, and his favorite color is blue. And its favorite character is Spider-Man because he likes to save the day.” ...

Mattawa PD Chief Robert Salinas led by example

MATTAWA — Officers with the Mattawa Police Department posted a message to MPD Chief Robert Salinas on the department’s social media Wednesday. “Thank you for your service, dedication and friendship,” it said. “Time will pass, but your memory will live forever. Rest easy, Chief Robert Salinas. “Your shift is over. We have the watch.”

Trujillo promoted to Quincy PD captain

QUINCY — Jorge Trujillo, a 15-year veteran of the Quincy Police Department, was sworn in as the QPD captain during Quincy’s regular city council meeting Tuesday...

Ephrata council offers appreciation for Adkinson

EPHRATA — The Ephrata City Council awarded former Interim City Administrator Kurt Adkinson with a trophy honoring his service to the community during its July 19 meeting now that new City Administrator Ray Towry is fully engaged in the city’s top administrative position.

Local law enforcement hopes for expanded vehicle pursuits

OLYMPIA – The passage of Senate Bill 5352, which reinstates some circumstances in which law enforcement can pursue a vehicle, has many law enforcement agencies saying the bill is a start but is not enough. “This definitely puts things in a step in the right direction for sure,” said Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete. “It really does. And I think we knew as far as law enforcement executives, we were not going to turn the page all at one time. We knew it was going to be bits and pieces every year – that a year goes by with data that's collected to show that in 2021 a really big mistake was made.”

BPA revenues $197M below financial performance target

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Bonneville Power Administration released its first official forecast of the expected financial performance for fiscal year 2024 on Feb. 13, according to an announcement from the organization. The statement said dry winter conditions in the Pacific Northwest have resulted in agency net revenues of -$102 million, $197 million below the financial performance target. BPA’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Marcus Harris commented on the estimates in the statement.

Rehaume selected as interim Othello police chief

OTHELLO — Othello Police Department Assistant Chief David Rehaume has been named as the interim chief while city officials conduct a search for a permanent replacement. Rehaume will take over June 1. “He’s been a 30-year-plus member of the Othello Police Department,” said Mayor Shawn Logan prior to Rehaume’s appointment by the Othello City Council. “This will be the second time in the last 10 years that we’ve sworn Dave in as our interim police chief. He certainly knows the department, he certainly knows what is expected and he knows what the responsibilities are.”

Othello PD chief announces retirement

OTHELLO — A reception is scheduled for 3 to 6 p.m. May 30 to recognize Othello Police Department Chief Phil Schenck, who announced his retirement Tuesday. Scheck has been OPD chief for nine years, working for the Sunnyside Police Department prior to that. He’s been in law enforcement for 34 years. The reception will be at the OPD office in Othello City Hall, 500 W. Main St.

New Othello police chief wants to continue 'path of success'

OTHELLO — Dave Rehaume said the Othello Police Department is going in a positive direction, and he wants to continue and enhance that. Rehaume was hired as OPD chief last week. Rehaume, a 34-year veteran with the OPD, started as a patrol officer. He was hired for the interim job in May, replacing retiring chief Phil Schenck, and hired for the permanent position July 3. He had been assistant chief for eight years prior to being hired as chief...

Othello PD names Garza assistant chief

OTHELLO — Othello Police Sergeant Aaron Garza was promoted to assistant chief of police and sworn in with a badge-pinning ceremony at the regular Othello City Council meeting Monday evening. Garza is filling the position of assistant chief after David Rehaume took over as chief of police earlier this year.

Kriete recognizes MLPD officers

MOSES LAKE – Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete presented citations of valor to two Moses Lake Police Department officers during a regular city council meeting on Tuesday...

CWU police expect therapy dog to make positive impacts

ELLENSBURG - The Central Washington University Police Department has a new best friend. And once the rest of campus gets to know him, they will, too. During a brief ceremony on May 30, Chief Jason Berthon-Koch swore in Archie, a therapy dog and the newest member of the police department. In a letter to colleagues, the chief said Archie's primary mission will be to provide support, comfort, and stress relief to CWU students, faculty, and staff — and "lend a helping paw when it matters the most." ...

Fuhr seeks additional officers for MLPD

Police chief seeks $1M in funding to ensure police force is adequate

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Police Chief Kevin Fuhr is asking the city council to consider adding up to $1 million to the police department’s annual budget to hire as many as six new officers, citing the department’s workload. “We run six officers per shift per crew and any given time, but with education and training, simply we average between four and five officers at any given that are working,” Fuhr told members of the Moses Lake city council on Tuesday. “Unfortunately, we are busy enough that four or five officers just doesn’t cut it anymore,” added the chief, who is also interim city manager.

Fuhr, Sands sworn in at Moses Lake council meeting

MOSES LAKE — A couple of torches were passed Tuesday, as Moses Lake swore in a new city manager and police chief. Former Moses Lake Police Chief Kevin Fuhr took the oath of office as the new city manager and former Moses Lake Police Department Capt. Dave Sands was sworn in as the new chief. The council had approved both appointments at its Oct. 12 meeting.

Rehaume chosen as Othello PD chief

OTHELLO — Dave Rehaume, a 34-year veteran of the Othello Police Department who was named interim chief in May, was hired and sworn in as chief during the Othello City Council meeting Monday. The council's vote to hire Rehaume was unanimous...

Moses Lake gets new city manager, police chief

MOSES LAKE – Now-former Moses Lake Police Chief Kevin Fuhr was appointed during this week’s city council meeting as permanent city manager. Subsequently, Captain David Sands has been tapped to take over as Moses Lake Police Department chief.

WA House passes police pursuit bill

Legislators, law enforcement consider bill, "too small a step forward."

OLYMPIA – The state House of Representatives voted this week to approve a measure that will restore vehicular pursuits for police under certain circumstances. “This important legislation will make incremental improvements to the 2021 law that severely restricts the possibility of suspects being pursued by law enforcement,” said Steven D. Strachan, executive director Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs...

STUDIO BASIN: Quincy Police Chief Ryan Green

MOSES LAKE — On this episode of the Studio Basin podcast, Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer sits down with Quincy Chief of Police Ryan Green, where the two discuss Green's career in law enforcement, his goals for the position and challenges facing Quincy. Next, Sports Reporter Ian Bivona goes over renovation projects at Central Washington University and Lions Park in Othello, the 14U Columbia Basin River Dogs finding success at regionals and athletic camps at Moses Lake and Warden high schools. The Studio Basin podcast can be found on your favorite podcast apps, or downloaded directly at https://bit.ly/3Q2bMdX.

Chow line

ROYAL CITY - Students, teachers and even Chief of Police Rey Rodriguez stand in line at Royal Intermediate School’s open house breakfast on the first day of school Tuesday.

Studio Basin: Council meeting, jail update, interim PD chief and districts

On this episode of the Studio Basin podcast, senior reporter Cheryl Schweizer recaps last week's headlines including the Moses Lake City Council meeting, an update on the Grant County Jail and Othello's interim police chief. Next, sports reporter Ian Bivona talks about ongoing district tournaments across the Basin.