PORT ANGELES — It’s not like Brian Smith will be walking into a brave new world when he goes to work this week.
Port Angeles City Manager Dan McKeen promoted Interim Police Chief Smith, deputy chief since 2008, to the city’s top law enforcement position Thursday.
Smith replaces Terry Gallagher, who retired earlier this year. Smith has held the interim police chief position since March 5.
After having gone through a review process since January, Smith said he had a good feeling when McKeen walked into the police department at the City Hall annex and asked Smith to join him in the city manager’s office.
Ten people applied for the position under a process facilitated by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs through an approximately $3,500 agreement.
They were narrowed to two finalists. Kevin Dresker, security services manager for the Wenatchee health care organization Confluence Health who has 28 years of law enforcement experience, was the other finalist.
“I sensed I was going to hear some good news, and I did,” said Smith, 59. “I’m very excited.”
The hiring process included participation of a community review board and panel interviews with city staff and supervisors.
Built relationships
“Brian has done a great job in building relationships with local, state and federal law enforcement as well as community groups, as evidenced during the community panel,” McKeen said.
The community panel included Michael Peters, CEO of the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe; Sharon Thompson, provider-recruiter for Olympic Medical Physicians and a member of the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce board; Alan Barnard, president of the Public Safety Advisory Board; Dr. Joshua Jones, medical director for Peninsula Behavioral Health and a Port Angeles School Board member; Mary Budke, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula; and Jennifer Veneklasen, Port Angeles city clerk.
“I’m confident in his abilities,” McKeen said.
“More important, he’s demonstrated a desire to grow as a leader within his department, as a leader within the city.
“He has the brains.
“His greatest strength is how responsive he is to the community when the community comes forward with issues and concerns.”
Smith was heading Friday to the Sequim unit of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula.
“PA Can [Port Angeles Citizen Action Network] asked for help feeding the kids, and nobody was available,” Smith said.
Salary
Smith’s salary will be $112,513, not including $17,000 annually in benefits.
He will oversee a 2016 operating budget of $5.1 million for the police department and $2.6 million for the Peninsula Communications dispatch system, and will supervise a staff of 61 positions, including 30 commissioned officers.
McKeen said Smith must decide whether the deputy chief position will be filled.
Smith also will prepare the 2017 budget, which he said Friday he has been doing anyway since 2013.
Department’s future
Smith said Friday he does not yet have firm plans for the department’s future.
That will come after he has an in-depth discussion with McKeen.
“I’ll have a dialogue with him on the direction he wants the police department to take and go through the priorities,” Smith said.
Smith was hired as deputy chief the same year Gallagher, who had served with the Port Angeles Police Department for more than 30 years, became chief.
Smith played a major role in obtaining federal Stonegarden grants for implementing the mobile data project between local law enforcement agencies as well as increasing foot patrol in the downtown area, city officials said Friday in a statement on Smith’s appointment.
Smith also collaborated with city staff to promote a wireless mesh network and obtain computers for patrol vehicles.
He applied for and received a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant that allowed a security system to be installed along the waterfront, according to the statement.
And he has established interlocal agreements with law enforcement agencies such as the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe, U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Coast Guard.
Smith has a background in criminal justice studies from the University of California with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
He studied at the FBI National Academy in Virginia and received a Master of Public Administration from Montana State University.
Smith served as a special agent in charge/chief of law enforcement services with the National Park Service in their Intermountain Region/Yellowstone Division.
He began his career as a park ranger.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
