Ex-sheriff’s new job carries some oversight of his old office

Ty Trenary will be a senior policy analyst focused on “high priority issues” across county agencies.

Ty Trenary

Ty Trenary

EVERETT — Snohomish County’s former sheriff has a new job in the executive’s office, and part of his role will be looking at what’s going on at his old stomping grounds.

Executive Dave Somers announced Friday that Ty Trenary will be a senior policy analyst focused on law and justice, emergency services, homeland security and “other high priority issues” that cross departments and agencies.

Trenary starts Monday and will make an annual salary of $148,100 — a downgrade from the $165,600 he would have made as sheriff in 2020. He previously indicated that he might stay on as a captain at the sheriff’s office. In the end, he decided to retire from law enforcement.

Funding for Trenary’s position is covered by the budget passed by the county council, spokesperson Kent Patton said.

In his new job, Trenary will get a chance in a different branch of county government to expand the programs he helped implement as sheriff. That includes embedded social workers, who have teamed up with deputies to help people experiencing homelessness, drug addiction and mental illness, and a new diversion center that’s used to steer those people toward longer-term services. He’ll be tasked with developing partnerships, identifying new funding sources and making policy recommendations.

He’ll also support the county’s $250,000 law and justice study, slated to be done by the end of the year. Another $250,000 is earmarked to carry out the study’s findings.

“I am excited to continue working on policies that matter to our residents, from public safety to homelessness and addiction,” Trenary said in a statement. “I care deeply about our community and am proud to join a team of leaders who are tackling some of the toughest challenges we face.”

Trenary and Somers endorsed one another in their re-election campaigns, and co-hosted an election night party at Hotel Indigo.

Somers said he plans to hire a policy analyst and conduct a study were underway before the election. When Trenary lost his bid for re-election and became available, hiring him seemed like a natural fit, Somers said.

“Ty’s experience speaks for itself,” Somers said. “He’s got a long resume. It’d be hard to imagine someone better for this position.”

To some extent, Trenary will have to cooperate with the man who beat him in the elections, Sheriff Adam Fortney. Somers admitted that could be awkward at first, but he was confident they could remain professional.

Somers noted that Trenary’s position does add an element of oversight for the sheriff’s office. But, he said, it’s the executive’s job to make sure all the department’s and agencies in the county are running properly.

“This is not an adversarial move,” Somers said.

There was a brief conflict between the executive and the new sheriff shortly after the Nov. 5 elections, when Somers considered moving oversight of the jail from the sheriff’s office to the executive’s. Somers said he initially had concerns about what Fortney might do with the facility, but he ultimately chose not to move forward with the plan.

Since then, Somers said he and Fortney have had several talks. And Fortney so far has taken a hands-off approach to the jail, leaving much of the same leadership intact.

“We want to work together,” Somers said. “There’ll be times we disagree. I personally don’t have time for a lot of conflict. I just want to make the county work well.”

To that end, Trenary can be a valuable resource, Somers said.

“Ty has been instrumental in launching innovative programs and has been successful working at the intersection of public safety, human services, and high impact policy development,” Somers said in a statement. “We will now be much better equipped to address issues related to public safety, homelessness, the effects of the opioid crisis and other key priorities.”

Zachariah Bryan: 425-339-3431; zbryan@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @zachariahtb.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Employees and patrons of the Everett Mall signed a timeline mural that traces the history of the 51-year-old indoor mall that was once considered the premier place to go shopping in the city. Thursday, March 20, 2025 (Aaron Kennedy / The Herald)
Mall mural offers nostalgic trip into the past

Past and present Everett Mall employees joined customers Thursday to view an artistic timeline of the once popular shopping mecca.

Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen gives his State of the City address on Thursday, March 20 in Edmonds, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Edmonds mayor talks budget at 2025 State of the City

Mayor Mike Rosen discussed the city’s deficit and highlights from his first year in office.

Daron Johnson, who runs Snohomish County Scanner, stands next to his scanner setup on Tuesday, April 1 in Everett, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Snohomish County law enforcement to encrypt police airwaves

The plan for civilian police scanners to go dark pushed a host to shut down his popular breaking news feed.

Richie Gabriel, 1, jumps off the bottom of the slide as Matthew Gabriel looks down at him from the play structure at Hummingbird Hill Park on Monday, March 31, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds residents show up for Hummingbird Hill Park, Frances Anderson Center

After a two-and-a-half hour public comment session, the council tabled its votes for the two comprehensive plan amendments.

Students Haddie Shorb, 9, left, and brother Elden Shorb, 11, right, lead the ground breaking at Jackson Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett district breaks ground on Jackson Elementary replacement

The $54 million project will completely replace the aging elementary school. Students are set to move in by the 2026-27 school year.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Another positive measles case identified in Snohomish County

The case was identified in an infant who likely contracted measles while traveling, the county health department said.

A Tesla drives along 41st Street on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Washington faces uncertain future of Clean Air Act regulations

The Trump administration’s attempt to roll back numerous vehicle pollution standards has left states wondering what’s next.

A person walks through the lot at Kia of Everett shopping for a car on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘The tariffs made me do it’: Customers move fast on cars

At one Everett dealership, customers move fast on cars ahead of Wednesday’s expected announcement on tariffs.

Public’s help needed to find missing Arlington man

The 21-year-old left the house Sunday night without his shoes, cell phone or a jacket, and was reported missing the following morning.

Will Geschke / The Herald
The Marysville Tulalip Campus on the Tulalip Reservation, where Legacy High School is located.
Marysville board votes to keep Legacy High at current location

The move rolls back a decision the school board made in January to move the alternative high school at the start of next school year.

The former Marysville City Hall building along State Avenue on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
City of Marysville, school board amend property exchange

The city will relocate its public works facility to the district’s current headquarters, which will move to the former City Hall.

Snohomish County Elections employees Alice Salcido, left and Joseph Rzeckowski, right, pull full bins of ballots from the Snohomish County Campus ballot drop box on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County to mail ballots for Edmonds, Brier elections

Registered voters should receive their ballots by April 9 for the April 22 special election.

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.