PORT ANGELES — Four lawmen, each of whom hopes to be the next permanent Port Angeles police chief, met this week with those they hope to serve.
Interim Port Angeles Police Chief Brian Smith, Kevin Dresker of Wenatchee and Pete Ketchum and Harold “Steve” Turner, both of Indiana, held a public meet-and-greet after a series of interviews with city officials and a community panel Wednesday.
City Manager Dan McKeen is expected to name Terry Gallagher’s successor by July 1. Gallagher retired in March after eight years at the helm of the department.
“It will be a hard act to follow, but I would like the opportunity to be your police chief,” Ketchum said.
Each candidate introduced themselves to a crowd of more than 50 who packed a meeting room at the Port Angeles fire station.
The candidates then met individually with forum attendees, who were urged to leave suggestions about the hiring in a comment box.
Smith
Smith, a 35-year veteran of law enforcement, is in his eighth year as Port Angeles deputy police chief. He was the first candidate to speak at the informal gathering.
“I’m very proud to say that Port Angeles is my hometown,” said Smith, 59.
The outpouring of community support after an officer-involved shooting late last month was “one of the most remarkable experiences you only have once in your life,” Smith said.
“That’s now part of my law enforcement story,” he said.
James Sweet was shot and wounded by police after they said he instigated a gunfight with law enforcement on U.S. Highway 101 at Monroe Road on May 28.
None of the officers was seriously hurt. Sweet is under arrest at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Smith was employed for 27 years by the National Park Service, beginning his career as a park ranger before serving as a special agent, special agent-lead instructor and regional special agent in charge.
He described the members of the Port Angeles Police Department as a “wonderful bunch of people.”
“I’m very proud of the officers, their accomplishments, the stuff that they do every day,” Smith said.
“I want to be police chief because I want to continue that work inside PAPD and outside PAPD with our partner agencies and with our community partners.”
Dresker
Dresker, 54, is security services manager for the Wenatchee health care organization Confluence Health.
The 28-year veteran of law enforcement began his career as a patrol officer with the Wenatchee Police Department.
He was promoted to captain, becoming the operations and administrative bureau commander in a city of about 33,000.
“This is different than Wenatchee, but it’s somewhat similar,” Dresker said of Port Angeles.
He said he likes the “community involvement” and “small-town feel” that Port Angeles and Wenatchee share.
“It’s nice to have that community interaction and that connection,” Dresker said.
“When you have a community that’s at odds with their [police] department, that’s tougher. And it’s inherent upon us as police officers to make sure we stay connected with the community and transparent.”
Dresker said he tried to learn as much as he could about Port Angeles and attended a City Council meeting Tuesday.
“You’ve got an excellent department here, and I think you have a lot of support in your community,” Dresker said.
“I know they care about you, from what I’ve seen.”
Ketchum
Ketchum, 56, is a lieutenant and chief investigator for the Franklin Police Department in Indiana.
Franklin is a city of about 24,000 some 25 miles south of Indianapolis. Ketchum has been with the Franklin police force for more than 21 years.
“I first learned about this opportunity through my brother-in-law, who is the chief of police on Bainbridge Island,” Ketchum said.
The son of a New York City policeman, Ketchum worked in private security for about 10 years before becoming a cop 25 years ago.
He said he was impressed with the charm of Port Angeles during his visit.
“Walking downtown, with the awnings and the facades, it kind of made me think that I was back in time a few decades,” Ketchum said.
“It just gave me a good feeling just to be here, let alone the mountains and the water. Just the environment downtown is neat. I think that you folks have got a real good thing going for you here.”
Ketchum added that he had “heard nothing but good things about your police department.”
Turner
Turner, who turns 45 next week, is a 20-year veteran of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
He is a district administrative-field captain who has worked in operations, investigations, administration, internal affairs, policy accreditation and traffic and youth services.
Turner said Port Angeles reminds him of his native Shelby County, Ind., which is “almost exactly like this except for the mountain and the water.”
“You have to kind of transplant that with soybeans and corn,” Turner said.
“But the same similar size. Alright? Same personalities.”
Noting the warm welcome he received in Port Angeles, Turner said he and his husband of one year would like to move to the area.
“We’ve been together 11 years. We just couldn’t get married because it wasn’t legal in Indiana until about a year and a half ago,” Turner said.
“Another great reason to come out to a progressive state and to Washington.”
Turner said he has seen the best and worst of people in his law enforcement career.
“At the end of the day, we all have the same goal, and that’s to make sure your officers go home every evening and that they protect you,” Turner said.
Beyond accomplishments on a resume, Turner said a police chief should be approachable, communicative and be a “kind human being.”
“Not only are you going to get in me an amazing police chief, but you’re going to get an amazing couple that’s going to be productive in this community and that’s going to be a part of this community and give our hearts and our soul and our spirits to this community,” Turner said.
McKeen said all four candidates are “very well-qualified” for the job.
“We’re looking for the right fit for the community,” McKeen said.
“We’re looking for the right fit for the senior staff group that they’ll be working closely with as part of the team approach in solving community problems. And we’ll be looking for the right fit for the council. That’s really important to us.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
