Edmonds police chief in hospital

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, April 24, 2007

EDMONDS – Police Chief David Stern is in a Seattle hospital after suffering a life-threatening stroke on Tuesday, Edmonds City Council President Peggy Pritchard Olson said.

Stern was raced to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle about 1:50 p.m. after he was found unresponsive in a vehicle in the 17500 block of Talbot Drive, Edmonds police Sgt. Don Anderson said.

A hospital spokeswoman said Stern was listed in critical condition in the hospital’s intensive care unit.

“It was apparent that he was suffering from a serious medical condition,” Anderson said.

Tuesday night’s Edmonds City Council meeting was cancelled in the wake of the news.

Edmonds Mayor Gary Haakenson went to Harborview when he learned of Stern’s condition. Haakenson hired Stern for the city’s police chief job six years ago.

“He’s a good family man, a good father, a good man,” Haakenson said. “He’s a good police chief, and very active in the community.”

Olson said she was “very concerned” for Stern. He’s the last person she would have expected to have a stroke, she said. He’s fit for his age and takes care of himself.

“He’s a great guy, and I just can’t say enough good things about him,” Olson said. “He’s been really wonderful to work with. My prayers are with him and his family.”

Assistant Chief Al Compaan is serving as acting chief, Anderson said.

Before coming to Edmonds, Stern was a police commander in Santa Maria, Calif. He’d served 32 years with several California law enforcement agencies.