PORT ANGELES –– The Port Angeles Police Department welcomed three new officers to the force this year and is now two officers away from a full staff.
The newest officer is Swift Sanchez, who was hired as a lateral police officer Monday.
With Sanchez, the department now has 30 of the 32 commissioned police officers for which the department is budgeted.
Officers have been working overtime as department officials worked to fill the vacancies, Sgt. Jason Viada said.
“There is work that has to be done,” he said.
“When we have shortages, we end up paying current staff overtime to do that work that has to be done.”
The department is working to fill the remaining two spots on the police force as quickly as possible, Viada said.
There are about 10 candidates for the positions at various stages of the hiring and testing process, he said.
The process to become an officer with the department includes a written examination, physical agility test, oral board, thorough background investigation, polygraph examination, psychological testing and final interview with the chief.
Earlier this year, the department hired two entry-level officers, Preston McFarlen and Luke Brown, who will both attend the state police academy for five months.
Brown starts at the academy this month and McFarlen will start in July, Viada said.
Following the academy, Brown will have a 14-week field-training program.
“It’s a highly competitive process,” Viada said. “The reason they were hired is because they made it through that process and made it to the top of that process.”
Peninsula natives
McFarlen, Brown and Sanchez are all originally from the North Olympic Peninsula, and all earned degrees from Peninsula College.
Viada said it isn’t uncommon for the department to hire officers who already have ties to the community.
“They are very much a part of their community and they are invested in their community,” Viada said.
“They make daily sacrifices to improve their community.”
Sanchez
Sanchez grew up in Forks, graduated from Forks High School and earned an associate degree from Peninsula College, a bachelor’s degree in social services from Central Washington University and a master’s degree in justice administration from Norwich University.
She started her career as an officer in Forks and was then hired on with the Lower Elwha Klallam Police Department.
She was later hired by the Suquamish Police Department, where she rose through the ranks as a police officer, detective, sergeant and deputy chief.
McFarlen
McFarlen grew up in Sequim, graduated from Sequim High School, and earned a bachelor’s degree in applied management from Peninsula College.
McFarlen was a reserve police officer with the Sequim Police Department prior to being hired in Port Angeles.
Brown
Brown grew up in Port Angeles, graduated from Port Angeles High School and earned an associate degree from Peninsula College.
Brown worked for the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office as jail corrections sergeant before he was hired by the Port Angeles Police Department.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
