Lake Stevens police undergo shakeup at the top

LAKE STEVENS — After two years of controversy, the Lake Stevens Police Department is undergoing major changes at the top.

The city in November hired former Granite Falls police chief Dennis Taylor as second in command.

Taylor, 51, also previously worked for the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office for 15 years, leaving as a sergeant to serve in Granite Falls. Taylor is heading up the police department’s long-term planning and will serve as the department spokesman.

Taylor was hired as an interim commander, though the job could become permanent, City Administrator Jan Berg said.

In addition, the city is seeking applicants for a lieutenant’s position to oversee a new Division of Professional Standards, among other duties. The lieutenant will investigate misconduct allegations and community complaints. The recruiting timeline for the position has been extended into late February, Berg said.

The changes are part of an overhaul at the 26-officer police department that began after a series of misconduct investigations drew public scrutiny in 2012 and 2013.

The department has been without a permanent chief since the former chief resigned in fall 2012. The city also is embroiled in at least three lawsuits related to police matters, two of which were filed by people on the force.

Mayor Vern Little has described the department’s overhaul as a priority for this year.

Lake Stevens Cmdr. Dan Lorentzen has been serving as the interim chief. After several rounds of interviews with potential police chiefs bore no fruit last year, the mayor asked for time to consider his options before again seeking applicants.

Taylor was one of those who applied for the chief’s job, Berg said. City officials liked that he had experience in long-term planning.

“It was just good timing that he was free,” she said. “When he interviewed for the chief job, it was very clear he has strong leadership skills.”

Taylor was fired from Granite Falls in October by former mayor Haroon Saleem, who did not seek re-election. Saleem was controversial as a public figure, and many in Granite Falls were upset over Taylor’s departure.

The Granite Falls City Council later decided to outsource police services to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office. The contract is set to begin in March. On Monday, sheriff’s Sgt. David Bowman began serving as the Granite Falls police chief.

In Lake Stevens, Taylor already has been part of the efforts to move forward, Berg said.

A controversial Lake Stevens officer was fired Dec. 31 after he was the focus of at least seven internal investigations. The city in 2013 also adopted new policies, including those governing officer discipline.

City officials recently conducted an internal survey of police employees to find out what they believe is needed next, Berg said.

The police department on Tuesday also asked people to take two online surveys to gauge public sentiment.

The surveys are available at www.surveymonkey.com/s/KSTRRZ7 and www.surveymonkey.com/s/Q5KGZDH.

A memo shared by the city this week shows current goals at the police department include working on “philosophy, culture and guiding principles.”

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.

The rezoned property, seen here from the Hillside Vista luxury development, is surrounded on two sides by modern neighborhoods Monday, March 25, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development

The change faced resistance from some residents, who worried about the effects of more density in the neighborhood.

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.

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.