OFFICERS

President
Ed Holmes - Chief, Mercer Island

President Elect
Ozzie Knezovich - Sheriff, Spokane County

Vice President
Eric Olsen - Chief, Kirkland Police Department

Past President
Ken Irwin - Sheriff, Yakima County Sheriff's Office

Treasurer
Paul Ayers - Chief, Issaquah Police Department

BOARD MEMBERS
Steve Boyer - Sheriff, Kitsap County
Ken Hohenberg - Chief, Kennewick Police Department
John Batiste - Chief, Washington State Patrol
John Snaza - Sheriff, ThurstonCounty
Laura Laughlin - SAC FBI
Tom Schlicker - Chief, Swinomish Police Department
Randy Stegmeier - Chief, Western WA University Department of Public Safety
Tom Robbins - Chief, Wenatchee Police Department

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mitch Barker - WASPC

Meeting Minutes

Meeting Schedule

• September 13-14, 2012
  Leavenworth, WA
  
  
• November 13, 2012
  Chelan, WA
  
  
• January 23, 2013
  Lacey, WA
  
  
• March 13, 2013
  Lacey, WA
  
  
• May 21, 2013
  Tacoma, WA
  

Chief Holmes began his career in law enforcement in 1994 with the Mercer Island Police Department. He worked in a variety of assignments, to include Patrol, Detectives, School Resource Officer, and Special Operations before being promoted to Sergeant in 1998. As a Sergeant he was assigned to the Patrol section and later to the Personnel and Training unit. In 2003 he was promoted to Lieutenant, and then appointed as the Operations Commander. In this role, he was responsible for the Patrol Section, the Marine Patrol Unit, the Dive Team, the Bike Team, and the Special Operations Team. In 2006, he was appointed to serve as the Chief of Police.

Prior to working for Mercer Island, he worked as a Juvenile Rehabilitation Counselor for incarcerated youth at Echo Glen Children's Center. He spent his time working with the youth in the Sex Offender Unit as well as the Maximum Security Unit..

Chief Holmes received his Bachelor of Arts and Teaching degree from Seattle Pacific University in 1992. In 2003 he earned his Master of Public Administration degree from Seattle University. He has been an active member of WASPC for a number of years, where he has served as Chair of the Model Policy committee and the Loaned Executive Management Assistance Program. He is a member of WASPC's Legislative Committee, Small Agency Committee, and Boating Safety Committee. He also served as WASPC's representative to the State's Sex Offender Policy Board. In May of 2012 he began his term as the President of WASPC. Additionally, he is an active member of the Mercer Island Rotary club, where he serves on a variety of committees.

Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich was appointed as Sheriff of Spokane County on April 11, 2006. He was elected to Office of Sheriff in the fall of 2006 and is currently serving his second term as our Sheriff. This year marks his 20th year in the Law Enforcement Profession.

As Sheriff of Spokane County, he oversees the law enforcement activities in the unincorporated areas of Spokane County and several contract cities and towns. He is also responsible for managing the County's Corrections System and the County's Department of Emergency Management.

Prior to being appointed to the office of Sheriff, he held the following positions at the Sheriff's Office: patrol deputy, field training officer, property crimes detective, sex crimes detective, SWAT team operator, SWAT Team supervisor, patrol supervisor, and training supervisor. He has also developed the school resource officer program and served as a school resource officer while serving with the Rock Springs Police Department in Rock Springs, Wyoming.

Sheriff Knezovich serves as the Vice President of the FBI-Law Enforcement Executive Development Association which is an organization dedicated to developing professional law enforcement leaders within the law enforcement community. At the local level Sheriff Knezovich is the Chair of the Emergency Communication Board.

Sheriff Knezovich is dedicated to reaching out to the community and our youth and serves on the following community outreach boards:

The United Way
Daybreak Youth Services
The Salvation Army
Frontier Behavioral Health (formally Mental Health)

Chief Eric Olsen is currently the Chief of Police of the Kirkland Police Department. Chief Olsen has served the citizens of Kirkland since 1988, starting off as a patrol officer and advancing through the ranks to Chief.

Chief Olsen assignments have included Captain of the Operations Division, where he managed Patrol, Investigations, ProAct, Traffic, Family Violence, and the Community Services Unit. Prior to being the Operations Captain, Chief Olsen was assigned to the Administrative Services Division, as a Captain, managing the Kirkland Municipal Jail, Kirkland Emergency 911 Communications Center, Records Division, and Training Division. In addition, Chief Olsen is also responsible for department budgeting, strategic planning, accreditation, and labor contract negotiation. He also serves as a representative to numerous regional and national committees relating to public safety, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Police Executive Research Forum, F.B.I. National Academy Associates ( Washington Chapter), National Tactical Officers Association, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, King County Police Chiefs Association, and the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies.

Eric has 25 years of police experience, including Carver County Minnesota Sheriffs Department, Lewiston Idaho Police Department, and Kirkland Washington Police Department. Eric has served as an officer, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain. Special assignments have included Field Training Officer, Pro- Act Unit, SWAT, and Traffic Investigation.

Eric is active in fund raising for Washington State Special Olympics, is a member of Kirkland Rotary, and has served as Chair of an Ethics Board in the community in which he resides.

Eric holds an A.A. degree in Law Enforcement from Normandale Community College (MN), B.A. degree in History from Crown College (MN) and an MPA from the University of Washington. Eric is also a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy, Senior Police Management Institute for Police, and the F.B.I. Law Enforcement Executive Development program.

Past President
Ken Irwin
Sheriff, Yakima County Sheriff's Office

Husband and father of four. 39 years in law enforcement: 6 yrs. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Dept., Las Vegas, Nevada. 33 yrs. Yakima County Sheriff's Office. First elected Yakima County Sheriff in 2001. Membership and leadership in many local and state committees. FBI National Academy Graduate

I thoroughly enjoy the many unique challenges of the Office of Sheriff. My emphasis has been on making Yakima County a safer place to live and visit through good hard-nosed police work, promoting and supporting gang intervention work and by empowering citizens through Block Watch, Citizen Patrol and community mobilization.

I have stressed customer service and improving our first response to solve more crime. I am very pleased that we are known for our good working relationships with other law enforcement agencies throughout the county and state.

Outside activities include keeping up with a 16 year old soccer playing daughter, walking and running, camping, golf, writing, volunteer work at church, Rotary and Kiwanis, working on a house built in 1926 and on a Buick built in 1955.

Chief Ayers has been in law enforcement for over 37 years. He started his career with the Moscow, Idaho Police Department in 1975 and in 1977 he became a Lewiston Idaho Police Officer. While at Lewiston he worked in all areas of operations, rising through the ranks and eventually retiring in 2007 as Chief of Police. In July of 2007, Paul was appointed to serve as the Chief of Police for the Issaquah Police Department. He has been a member of WASPC for 3 years and is currently on the Accreditation Committee.

Chief Ayers has a Bachelor of Arts Degree and is a graduate of the 171st Session of the FBI National Academy. For over 13 years he served as Secretary/Treasurer of the FBI National Academy Montana/Idaho Chapter and is currently the Treasurer of the King County Police Chief's Association. For the past two years he has been the Chairperson of the Coalition of Small Police Agencies and is an active member of the Issaquah Rotary Club. He also serves on a variety of community committees.

Chief Ayers has been married for over 38 years and has one son, who is currently a Sergeant with the Coeur d' Alene Police Department in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho.

Chief John R. Batiste is the 21st Chief of the Washington State Patrol. Governor Christine Gregoire
appointed Chief Batiste on February 14, 2005. The Washington State Patrol is the largest public safety, law enforcement agency in the state.

The Washington State Patrol is a statewide general authority Washington law enforcement agency employing over 2,300 (1,150 sworn and 1,150 professional support staff) personnel with a biennial budget of $369 million. Chief Batiste oversees the day-to-day management of the agency's six bureaus: Field Operations Bureau, Fire Protection Bureau (State Fire Marshal), Forensic Laboratory Services Bureau (statewide Crime Lab), Investigative Services Bureau, Management Services Bureau, and Technical Services Bureau.

Chief Batiste began his career with the Washington State Patrol in March 1976. He has promoted through the ranks of Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Deputy Chief with assignments in Field Operations, District 1 - Tacoma, Research and Development, and Human Resource Division. Chief Batiste retired from the Washington State Patrol in April 2002, with over 26 years of service. He has been the Assistant Chief of the Tacoma Police Department, and was recently the Deputy Chief of the Port of Seattle Police Department.

Chief Batiste obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Law Enforcement Administration from City University and is currently working on his Masters Degree in Organization and Human Resource Management.

Chief Batiste has been involved in a variety of activities and organizations, including his work with the Kenya National Police Force to create a National Police Chaplin Program and the South African National Police Force to assist with training and procedures on ethical policing.

Chief Batiste is an Executive Board Member of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs; Executive Board Member for the Western States Information Network; Washington Criminal Justice Training Commissioner; Washington Traffic Safety Commissioner; Chairman of the Governor's Methamphetamine Coordinating Council; member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Forensic Investigation Council, Governor's Council on Substance Abuse, and Governor's Emergency Management Council. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Northwestern University.

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Ms. Laughlin is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a major in English and a minor in Chemistry. She also completed graduate course work in Anatomy at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia. Ms. Laughlin entered on duty as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in February, 1985. Her investigative assignments include postings in Portland, Omaha, New York, and the District of Columbia. Her duties as a case agent involved white-collar crime matters such as fraud against the government, financial institution fraud, public corruption/organized crime, and reactive investigations such as bank robberies, violent crimes, fugitives, and kidnappings.

While assigned to the New York Office, Ms. Laughlin was a Team Leader on a bribery scheme involving City health officials. She developed a public corruption/organized crime case involving the bilking of a city service contract by associates of the LCN to transport foster children throughout the five boroughs. Losses to the City were approximately $5 million.

In the District of Columbia, Ms. Laughlin was assigned to assist Judge Frederick B. Lacey pursuant to his appointment by then-Attorney General William P. Barr in October, 1992 to investigate issues related to the Banca Nazionale del Lavoro (BNL). She was then selected as the Case Agent assigned to an investigation of events surrounding the 1992 election campaign of then-Governor William J. Clinton and then-President of the United States George H. W. Bush for which the former United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, Joseph E. diGenova, was appointed as the Independent Counsel by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

In January, 1995, Ms. Laughlin was promoted to FBI Headquarters and served as a Supervisory Special Agent in the Public Corruption Unit. She was selected for a special assignment in January, 1996 to oversee corruption and drug trafficking cases along the southwest border.

In February, 1997, Ms. Laughlin was assigned as senior manager on the Campaign Financing Task Force during then-President William J. Clinton's Administration. She was promoted in October, 1997 to the Washington Field Office as the supervisor of a Governmental Fraud Squad. In January, 2000, Ms. Laughlin was promoted to Chief of the Financial Institution Fraud Unit where she worked with her then-U.S. Customs Service counterparts to develop a joint intelligence center for Intellectual Property Rights matters. In April, 2001, Ms. Laughlin was promoted to Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge in Philadelphia managing office resources for white collar and cyber crime investigations. Ms. Laughlin was promoted in October, 2003 to Chief of the Public Integrity/Civil Rights Section where she managed the FBI's Public Corruption, Governmental Fraud, and Civil Rights Programs. She was transferred in June, 2004 to assume the duties as Chief of the Criminal Intelligence Section where she was responsible for eight units consisting of 112 Intelligence Analysts and 11 Agents. In December, 2004, Ms. Laughlin was promoted to her current position as Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI's Seattle Division.

Chief Schlicker began work with the Swinomish Police Department in July of 1989. Prior to coming to the Swinomish Police, Tom worked for the Town of La Conner as an officer.

Chief Schlicker has worked in all areas of the Department from Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant and Assistant Chief before being appointed the Chief of Police in 1995.

Chief Schlicker has been a member of WASPC since 1991 and has been on the Traffic Committee and Small Agency Committee. He has served on the Sergeant of Arms Committee since 1996. Tom has been an active member of the Northwest Association of Tribal Enforcement Officers (NATEO) since 1990, on the NATEO Executive Board, and is the in-coming NATEO President for 2010. He is a current member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). Chief Schlicker is also an Executive Board Member of WASPC.

Chief Stegmeier has 37 years of law-enforcement experience, including 30 years in a variety of roles with the University of Washington Police Department, where he was the assistant chief from 1995 to 2000. He also served as the commander of the state's Basic Law Enforcement Academy. A native of Selah, Chief Stegmeier has a bachelor of sciences degree in Police Science and Administration from Washington State University, graduated from the Law Enforcement Executive Institute in Seattle in 1983 and the FBI Command College in 1996. He has been the Chief of Police at Western Washington University since January of 2008.
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Steve was elected as Sheriff by the citizens of Kitsap County in 1998. He proudly served in the Washington State Patrol for 27 years as a trooper, detective, sergeant, and as Commander of the Olympic Peninsula.

Responsibilities included vessel and terminal security for the State Ferry System and Commander of the SWAT team high risk warrant squad and hostage negotiations team. A recipient of community and professional awards including nominee for the Governor's Award of Professional Excellence, Citizen of the Year, earned a bachelor's degree in Law and Justice and graduate course work while attending the Southern Police Institute. He is very proud of his family. Judi is a registered nurse in ICU at Harrison Hospital. Sean graduated from Seattle University Law School and is a Special Agent with NCIS. Tamara is an ICU Nurse. Andrew is a Washington State Trooper.

The Office of Sheriff is one of the oldest elected positions and was formally established by the Washington State Constitution. The Sheriff is the "Chief Executive Officer" of the County and is charged with keeping the peace, all law enforcement functions, executes the orders of the court, serves warrants, maintains the jail and coordinates search and rescue services.

Steve is very honored to lead the high caliber men and women of the Sheriff's Office. They risk their lives each day to ensure our community's safety. Sheriff Boyer believes the essential element required in fulfilling these obligations is the trust, which must exist between citizens and their sheriff.

Chief Hohenberg is a 32-year veteran with the Kennewick Police Department. During his career he has been a patrol officer, traffic officer, Kennewick's first DARE officer, a motorcycle officer, patrol sergeant, the department's first internal affairs lieutenant and commanded both field services (patrol) and operational services (detectives/youth services) as a captain. Chief Hohenberg was appointed Assistant Chief in 2001 and was appointed Chief of Police in 2003.

Chief Hohenberg is a lifelong Tri-Citian, born and raised in Richland. Chief Hohenberg completed his bachelor's degree in Law and Justice at Central Washington University and did post graduate work at the University of Virginia while attending the F.B.I. academy in Quantico, Virginia. Besides being a FBI National Academy graduate, Chief Hohenberg graduated from PERF's "Senior Management Institute for Police" at Boston University and the FBI's Law Enforcement Executive Development school.

Chief Hohenberg is a member and past President of the Columbia Center Rotary Club and serving as the immediate Past President of the Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation Board. Chief Hohenberg is the past Board Chair of United Way for Benton and Franklin Counties was selected as the 2005 "Kennewick Man of the Year" and was selected as the "Tri-Citian of the Year" in 2009.

Chief Hohenberg has is an active member of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs serving as co-chair of the LEMAP committee, Board Member for the Washington Auto Theft Prevention Board, and served as a hearing panel member for the state certification panel.

Chief Hohenberg was recognized as the 2010 National DEA/DARE Executive of the Year for his leadership in drug education and enforcement.

John Snaza has been serving the citizens of Thurston County for over 19 years. John was hired by the Thurston County Sheriff's Office in 1993, and after a brief absence from the agency he returned in 2004 to serve the office as a deputy sheriff. He has been assigned to various positions, most recently the Community Outreach Deputy until being elected to Sheriff on January 1, 2011.

During his career with the Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Snaza was assigned as the commander of the multi-agency Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Marine Services, Explorer Advisor, and other critical positions within the agency. Sheriff Snaza actively supports local charitable efforts. He is an active member of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC), and resides on the Executive Board for both Big Brothers and Big Sisters for Southwest Washington and the Family Safety Center.

Sheriff Snaza is a recipient of the agency's Life Saving Award and Sheriff's Office Distinguished Service Award. Sheriff Snaza was also presented with the "Champion for Kids" award from Together in 2012.

John enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, and playing softball.

Tom Robbins
Chief, Wenatchee Police Department

Chief Robbins has over thirty-nine years in law enforcement, between twenty-eight years with the Washington State Patrol and over eleven years with the Wenatchee Police Department. In the Patrol he worked throughout the state moving through progressive ranks and assignments, retiring from the statewide responsibility as Field Operations Commander in June of 2001. In August of 2001 he was appointed Police Chief for the City of Wenatchee.

When joining the Police Department the Chief brought his strong belief in community integration and forming partnerships to gain public support. It is his philosophy that through sustained community partnerships and effective problem solving crime can be reduced, which will result in a safer community and enhanced quality of life. He highly values his agency partnership with other criminal justice agencies throughout the state.

Throughout his career the Chief has found that motivated high quality people are the key to the professional and progressive effectiveness of any organization, including law enforcement agencies. He has found this to be true in his time with the Patrol and the Police Department.

Chief Robbins is very active in the community and has served in several organizations, local and statewide, and non-profit boards and service groups such as; Co-chair - United Way, Co-chair - Wenatchee Valley Dispute Resolution Center Advisory Board, Chair - Link Transit Citizens Advisory Board, Chair - Together for Drug Free Youth, Apple Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross Board, Child advocacy Center Board, Chelan County Regional Justice Center Board, Rivercom E911 Center Planning Committee and Board, Past-President - Wenatchee Central Lions Club (Melvin Jones Fellow), Director General - Washington State Apple Blossom Festival, Alumni of Leadership Wenatchee Valley - Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce, Community Gang Interdiction Committee and others.

The Chief was an associate member of WASPC since 1992 and member since 2001, totaling 20 years. He has served on several committees during that time including; Co-chair of an ad-hoc Accreditation Committee when reviewing and updating the accreditation process, member - Accreditation Committee, former member of the Accreditation Commission, former Co-chair of the WASPC Traffic Safety Committee, former member of the Resolution Committee, member of the Legislative Committee and a member LAW.

Chief Robbins has an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from Spokane Community College and is a graduate of the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety - Police Staff and Command.

Mitch Barker started his law enforcement career in the State of Washington as a patrol officer at the Des Moines Police Department in 1978. In 1996, Mitch was appointed as the Chief of Police for the City of Gig Harbor.

From 2003 to January 2009, Barker served as the Assistant Chief of Police for the Vancouver Police Department. In February 2009, Mitch was appointed as the Director of the Special Investigations Unit at the State of Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

On January 1, 2012, Mitch assumed the duties of Executive Director for the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.

Mitch has a Master of Arts in Public Administration from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Justice from Central Washington University. Mitch graduated from the 200th Session of the FBI National Academy in 2000.