Brent McFarlane hired as Othello Police Chief
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 months AGO
New Othello Police Chief Brent McFarlane (left) and OPD officer Derek Garza with a member of the OPD Explorer program at the 2026 graduation ceremony. McFarlane was hired as OPD chief Monday.
COURTESY PHOTO/OTHELLO POLICE DEPARTMENT
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | June 10, 2026 3:55 AM
OTHELLO — Brent McFarlane has been hired as the permanent Othello Police Chief. Othello City Council members approved the appointment Monday on a unanimous vote.
City Administrator Aaron Garza said in a separate interview that city officials thought McFarlane would be the right fit.
“We chose Brent because we thought he has all the characteristics and capabilities of a police chief,” Garza said.
Garza was OPD chief prior to McFarlane; when Garza was hired as city administrator in May, McFarlane was named as interim chief.
McFarlane joined the OPD in 2014. He was promoted to OPD sergeant in 2016; he had worked as a field training officer and became a detective sergeant in 2021. Part of that job involved working on investigations of major crimes in the city. McFarlane also has been one of the leaders in the department’s efforts to investigate and combat human trafficking cases and gang activity.
“It’s a great move. We’ve got some great people in the department, and we’re looking to you to lead those people,” Mayor Ken Johnson said.
McFarlane expressed gratitude to his family and friends, and he recounted a conversation with his wife after he was offered the job.
“She (said), ‘Did you ever think you would ever be the chief of police of Othello?’ And I (said), ‘No, I never thought that. Especially this fast.’ It’s a good reminder for me that no matter how fast things go in life, how challenging things get, how much change there is, how much uncertainty, to always trust the process. I think the strength in our department has always been our resilience and our ability to adapt to adversity.”
Garza was appointed as interim chief in November 2025, after the retirement of former chief Dave Rehaume. Garza was hired as Rehaume’s replacement in January and became city administrator in May. That was a lot of change in a very short time, McFarlane said, and with another new chief, there’s more change to come.
“I firmly believe OPD’s future is bright,” he said. “The city of Othello’s future is bright.”
He also expressed appreciation to OPD officers.
“I wouldn’t be up here if it wasn’t for you guys,” McFarlane said. “I can’t lead alone.”
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