Spokane Mayor Dennis Hession today announced that he has appointed Anne Kirkpatrick, the Chief of Police from Federal Way, Wash., as Spokane’s new Police Chief. Kirkpatrick’s appointment will be forwarded to the City Council for confirmation.

“Anne Kirkpatrick is the right choice for Spokane; she will be a strong leader who will continue to build on the strengths of the Spokane Police Department,” Mayor Hession says.

“I’m very excited to join the City of Spokane,” says Kirkpatrick. “This is a great City with a great Police Department; it will be my honor to serve the citizens of Spokane.”

The Mayor has asked the Mayor to concentrate on these things initially:

• Restoring a sense of direction for the department.
• Identifying the strengths and weaknesses within the Police Department and implementing needed changes.
• Managing the budget, leading strategic planning, and emphasizing deployment of new technology.

Kirkpatrick has been the Chief of Police in Federal Way since 2001. She also has been the Chief of Police in Ellensburg, Wash.; Director of the Criminal Justice program at Green River Community College in Auburn, Wash.; and a police officer and sergeant at the Redmond, Wash., Police Department. She started her career at the Memphis, Tenn., Police Department. She also has served as a guest speaker at instructor at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Kirkpatrick holds a law degree from Seattle University, a master’s degree in counseling from the University of Memphis, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from King College.

If confirmed, Kirkpatrick will succeed Roger Bragdon, who served as the City’s top law enforcement official from January 2000 to December 2005. Jim Nicks has been serving as the City’s acting Police Chief since Bragdon’s departure.

Mayor Hession thanked Chief Nicks for his work during this transition. “This was a difficult time,” the Mayor says. “I thank Jim Nicks for taking on these added responsibilities and working for the betterment of our community.”

Kirkpatrick was one of four finalists vying for the position. “The quality of candidates for this position made this decision particularly difficult,” says Mayor Hession. “I would like to thank them all, and particularly our own Bruce Roberts, for participating in this lengthy process.”

The four candidates participated in a three-day evaluation interview process that included individual interviews, three public forums, tours of various facilities, and meetings with citizens, police and other City employees, police volunteers, and City officials.

The Mayor also thanked the members of the Police Chief selection committee lead by Deputy Mayor Jack Lynch; the officers, civilian employees, and volunteers of the Spokane Police Department; and the many citizens who weighed in on this issue.

“I received many thoughtful comments and recommendations from employees, volunteers, and citizens,” says the Mayor. “The respondents were very appreciative of the open process, and ultimately, they, too, favored Anne Kirkpatrick for our new Police Chief.

The Chief of Police position, which pays up to $140,000 a year, is responsible for managing 380 employees and a $40 million budget.