Lake Stevens police chief, city work on separation agreement

LAKE STEVENS — Longtime Lake Stevens Police Chief Randy Celori left the post earlier this month and is working on a separation agreement with the city, The Herald confirmed Friday.

Celori met with Mayor Vern Little on Nov. 5. The two agreed it would be best for the city to find new leadership for the 25-officer department, Celori said.

The decision was mutual, but “we’re all sad,” City Administrator Jan Berg said.

On Friday, Celori and Berg both said they couldn’t discuss the matter in any detail until after an agreement is signed.

Cmdr. Dan Lorentzen is serving as interim chief. City Council members are expected to begin making plans for filling the position soon.

The past few chiefs, including Celori, came from internal promotions, and Lake Stevens has grown significantly since then, Berg said. They plan a full recruitment process and could consider internal applicants.

As chief, Celori was paid about $121,500 a year.

Rumors have flown around town that City Hall was looking to outsource police services under a contract with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, as several other cities have done in recent years.

As of Friday, the sheriff’s office had not been approached by Lake Stevens officials or been asked for a bid, spokeswoman Shari Ireton said.

“The sheriff welcomes any opportunity to discuss a partnership with any Snohomish County community,” she said. “Officially, no one’s come to us and requested our services.”

Some people in town have urged council members to consider a sheriff’s contract, Berg said.

Some council members have asked for information about a contract, but the consensus seems to be sticking with the city’s police department, she said.

“We feel obligated to look at that, but that’s not a direction the city wants to go,” she said.

Celori joined the department in the mid-1990s. He also served in the U.S. Army for 16 years.

Celori became chief in 2001.

He served the city well, Berg said.

Celori said he is proud of his accomplishments as chief, including building a new police station, achieving state re-accreditation and building a partnership with local schools.

He also served as president of the city’s Chamber of Commerce. He is eligible for retirement in a couple of months, he said.

“I have no regrets,” he said. “I’m looking forward to transitioning to my next stage. I’ve always been a dedicated and passionate police chief, and I’ve been honored to serve the city of Lake Stevens.”

Celori lives in Mill Creek with his family. He’s already received a few job offers but plans to take a few months off to hang out with his kids and work on his house, he said.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Everett
11 months later, Lake Stevens man charged in fatal Casino Road shooting

Malik Fulson is accused of shooting Joseph Haderlie to death in the parking lot at the Crystal Springs Apartments last April.

T.J. Peters testifies during the murder trial of Alan Dean at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bothell cold case trial now in jury’s hands

In court this week, the ex-boyfriend of Melissa Lee denied any role in her death. The defendant, Alan Dean, didn’t testify.

A speed camera facing west along 220th Street Southwest on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Washington law will allow traffic cams on more city, county roads

The move, led by a Snohomish County Democrat, comes as roadway deaths in the state have hit historic highs.

Mrs. Hildenbrand runs through a spelling exercise with her first grade class on the classroom’s Boxlight interactive display board funded by a pervious tech levy on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lakewood School District’s new levy pitch: This time, it won’t raise taxes

After two levies failed, the district went back to the drawing board, with one levy that would increase taxes and another that would not.

Alex Hanson looks over sections of the Herald and sets the ink on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Black Press, publisher of Everett’s Daily Herald, is sold

The new owners include two Canadian private investment firms and a media company based in the southern United States.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.