Lynnwood needs to involve public in selecting new police chief

Published 1:30 am Sunday, July 30, 2023

Lynnwood police chief

Process needed public involvement

As an activist who has been requesting community involvement with the $70 million-plus creation of Lynnwood’s jail labeled as a community justice center, I am not surprised by the lack of transparency of the city picking a new police chief.

Zero open discussion. Zero place for comment. Zero transparency.

The decision has been made.

The best decision is honesty. The best decision is transparency. The best decision is community involvement.

Selecting a new police chief through the privacy of executive sessions, bending the rules, and avoiding public comment is not democracy; it’s a business of incarceration.

The City of Edmonds did its due diligence and got a highly respected police chief because the city was transparent about the process and involved the people.

However, with the current mayor, there is a disturbing trend to break protocol and hire whoever they want for the position. Long-time city employee and veteran, Art Ceniza who served as Lynnwood’s assistant city administrator bravely returned to council chambers to speak of his experience with the current city’s hiring process.

The City of Lynnwood should have selected an interim police chief, not a final one without transparency or input from the people.

That’s how democracy works, not by intimidation and tweaking the system just to get a friend in a higher position of power.

I can assume that the candidates that were picked behind closed doors are qualified and have done great work. Then give them the due process they deserve, and make the hiring process open and public.

Elizabeth Lunsford

Lynnwood