Asst. Chief Rod Sniffen named acting Edmonds police chief ahead of Chief Bennett retirement

Edmonds Assistant Police Chief Rod Sniffen

Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen on Tuesday said he has appointed Assistant Chief of Police Rod Sniffen as Edmonds’ acting police chief. Current Police Chief Michelle Bennett will be retiring in February.

“Three key factors in my decision of appointing an acting chief were continuity of operations,” Rosen said. “The need for effective leadership during this transition, and a fair process for the eventual selection of the new regular chief of police.”

During an assessment of internal interest in the chief of police position, Assistant Chief Sniffen indicated that if named acting police chief, he would not be seeking the regular appointment for that position, the city said in a news release.

“Assigning Assistant Chief Sniffen as acting chief ensures that no internal candidate has a real or perceived advantage while providing effective leadership during this transition,” Rosen said. “I am confident in Assistant Chief Sniffen’s ability to lead the department during this transition while we find our new chief of police.”

Bennett’s final day before retirement will be Feb. 28, but she will be out of the office beginning Feb. 11. During her absence, she has named Assistant Chief Sniffen in charge of command until March 1, at which time he will transition into the role of acting chief of police.

The process for selecting the new Edmonds police chief includes several steps, the city said.

The mayor is required to begin the recruitment for the new chief within 30 days of the vacancy. The caveat to that 30-day requirement is if the mayor decides to reorganize the department, in which case he would be allowed 60 days to propose the reorganization and 30 days after council action to begin recruitment.

The mayor has expressed a desire to fill the position with an internal candidate.

Here’s what next for the police chief selection, the city said:

– Seek input from the community, Edmonds Police Department staff and city directors for their priorities in choosing the next chief. The survey is in process; the community survey closes on Jan. 17.

– Review job description and recommend changes as informed by the survey results.

– Open the position for applicants to formally apply.

– Secure Public Safety Testing to conduct an assessment center.  Public Safety Testing is a company that conducts law enforcement assessment centers and background checks.

– The city’s human resources department will pre-screen applicants to identify those who meet the minimum requirements.

– Recruit a panel to score applicants and conduct interviews.

– The mayor will interview candidates.

– The mayor will bring three candidates forward to the city council for interviews.

– Informed by the results of each step above, the mayor chooses his preferred candidate.

– The mayor then seeks confirmation from the council.

  1. Since many of the citizens of Edmonds do not agree with the woke/Seattle Lite positions of the mayor, perhaps a citizen’s panel should be created. The key is enforcing the laws of the city in their entirety. Gang symbols are being painted on our streets. Don’t believe me? Drive by Pine Street going west. What about the attack on citizens by the fishing pier just last week? The rate 99 is going down the hole, it will look like Aurora Avenue complete with the streetwalkers.

    1. What difference will it make? He will hire to check boxes instead of competency. The entire culture needs to change. This area used to be so nice.

  2. It seems to me like the Mayor is trying to do this part of his job in exactly the right way based on current city code for completing the procedure. Why would anyone knock him for doing that? If I have the right to call him out when I think he’s doing it wrong, I sure must have a duty to comment positively when I think he’s doing it right. Public safety is a Mayor’s major responsibility and I complement him on taking this seriously. I wish he had the same attitude about fire service and wanting to control that himself but, hey, baby steps.

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