Warden seeks new police chief
NANCE BESTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 6 months AGO
Warden is looking for a new police chief after Chief Rick Martin announced his plans to retire June 15. The new chief must live within 20 miles of the city, have at least 10 years of law enforcement experience and at least three years of leadership experience.
NANCE BESTON/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
WARDEN – The City of Warden is preparing for a transition in its Police Department as Chief Rick Martin announced his retirement effective June 15, 2025, at the April 22 city council meeting, prompting the city to initiate the hiring process for his successor.
With a population of 2,750 in the agricultural community of Grant County, local officials emphasize the importance of strong leadership in maintaining the safety and well-being of its residents.
“I’m looking for a leader that’s experienced and that is going to come and join our team,” said Mayor Rosaelia Martinez. “We want someone who will embrace our vision and engage with our citizens and businesses.”
This commitment to community engagement is pivotal, as Warden continues to grow while fostering its small-town charm, she said.
“Warden is a great community. We have had great citizens here and I have seen a lot of great, great people. I think anyone that is hired here will see that the community is growing, and it's a good place to live, a wonderful place,” Martinez said. “I think that we can attract a great police chief for our department. We are going to bring competitive gains and opportunities.”
To ensure a smooth transition, the city has established a minimum of three years of leadership experience in law enforcement for applicants, alongside a requisite ten years of total law enforcement experience.
The role includes reporting to the elected mayor, overseeing the other police department employees, maintaining positive relationships with city employees and residents, and administrative responsibilities such as maintaining the department budget and developing department programs.
Martin, who has served since 2009, has played a significant role in fostering relationships between the police department and the community, according to Martinez.
“He has been very informative, engaging, and always embraced my vision for Warden,” Martinez said, underscoring the necessity for the incoming chief to continue this level of engagement.
Moreover, Martinez emphasized the importance of a robust response time in any policing approach. The city has set a geographical limit for applicants, requiring them to reside within 20 miles of Warden to optimize response times. “We want to keep it within this range for quick responses,” she said, referencing the proximity to neighboring towns like Othello and Moses Lake.
The city is offering a competitive salary range of $105,000 to $120,000, along with a signing bonus of up to $15,000 and a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance and retirement plans. This compensation package aims to attract qualified candidates who are not only experienced but also aligned with the community’s values.
As Warden embarks on this search for its new police chief, city officials remain optimistic about attracting a candidate who will successfully lead the department and strengthen its ties to the community.
“I believe that anyone hired here will find that this is a great place to live,” Martinez said.
For more information on the role, visit: https://bit.ly/WPDCHIEF.
ARTICLES BY NANCE BESTON
Bartrand leads assessor race in preliminary results
EPHRATA — Preliminary election results show Grant County Assessor Candidate Anson Bartrand leading over challenger Clayton Johnson, but both candidates say the race remains far from decided as thousands of ballots remain uncounted. As of the Nov. 3 count, Bartrand received 7,152 votes to Johnson's 5,195. However, Election Coordinator Rebecca Pettingill said Wednesday afternoon that election workers still had about 7,000 ballots in the office awaiting processing and estimated that roughly 15,000 ballots remain to be counted countywide before certification. “If we're going to be anywhere near where we were in 2022, which we're still on kind of track to be, we'll probably process another 15,000 ballots before the end of the election,” Pettingill said.
Gregg leads sheriff's race as thousands of ballots remain uncounted
EPHRATA — Challenger Darrik Gregg held an early lead over incumbent Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete following the first release of election results Tuesday night, but both candidates said the outcome remains uncertain with thousands of ballots still waiting to be processed. Preliminary results as of Nov. 3 showed Gregg with 6,670 votes, or about 54.7%, compared to 5,392 votes, or about 44.3%, for Kriete. There were also 123 write-in candidates, or about 1% of the vote. However, Grant County Elections Coordinator Rebecca Pettingill said Wednesday that the county still has a substantial number of ballots left to count before election certification Nov. 24.
MLSD highlights STOPit app as tool for reporting safety concerns
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District officials are encouraging students, parents and community members to use the district's STOPit reporting platform to share concerns about school safety, bullying and student well-being. The renewed focus on the reporting system follows a recent community safety town hall, where district leaders discovered many attendees were unfamiliar with the tool, according to Director of Public Relations Ryan Shannon. “We wanted people to know this system is available to our community and to the parents for a multitude of different issues,” Shannon said.