Granite Falls names interim chief
Published 10:26 pm Thursday, September 2, 2010
GRANITE FALLS — Sgt. Dennis Taylor of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office has been named interim police chief until the status of city Police Chief Tony Domish is resolved.
Domish has been on paid leave since April 23 while an investigation of his conduct was undertaken by the Sheriff’s Office. The review was done at the request of Mayor Haroon Saleem. A five-binder report on the investigation was turned over to the city on Wednesday but has not been made public.
The City Council voted 3-0, with two absent, on Wednesday to appoint Taylor to the interim post.
“The entire Police Department supports Dennis Taylor as interim chief and asked me to come over here today and express that,” Granite Falls police Officer Pat White told members of the City Council. “We’re looking for continuous leadership here.”
Snohomish County Undersheriff Tom Davis said Taylor would be a good fit in the city. He assured the council that the city can decide if Taylor wears the green uniform of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office or Granite Falls blue.
“The Sheriff’s Office has no interest in running the day-to-day operations of the Granite Falls Police Department,” Davis said. “That person should work directly for the mayor and council. He’s a Granite Falls police chief, he’s not a Snohomish County sergeant.”
Councilwoman Elizabeth Adams said her vote in favor of hiring Taylor as the interim chief was not a negative reflection on Domish.
“I want to make this very clear that this is not, for me, anything negative on Chief Domish,” she said. “I have supported him and have not been a fan of what’s been going on, but I understand the police department’s need to have consistency to get things to settle down again and to get back to business of police work.”
Granite Falls will pay $37,967 in salary and benefits for his services through the end of the year, and $75,933 from January through August 2011 if necessary, according to the agreement between the city and the Sheriff’s Office.
Taylor said he asked Davis for the opportunity to be the city’s interim chief.
“I am committed and invested out here in Granite Falls,” he said. “I have been with the officers of Granite Falls for about 15 years. I have no desire to go anywhere.”
Lt. Rick Hawkins of the Sheriff’s Office served as interim police chief from April 23 through Tuesday.
Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491; adaybert@heraldnet.com.
