Two join Monroe police, veteran retires

Published 4:38 pm Tuesday, July 5, 2011

MONROE — Monroe recently swore in two police officers, including one officer who left in the fall and was rehired.

The two police officers were sworn in June 21.

Officer Javier Patton left Monroe last year, expecting to be laid off. He was the city’s sole Spanish-speaking officer. When he heard about another officer retiring, he asked for his old job back.

“This is his home, and he wanted to come back,” Monroe police spokeswoman Debbie Willis said.

The officer new to Monroe is Reed Jones, formerly a King County sheriff’s deputy. He’s originally from Texas.

The officer who retired was Ken Sahlstrom. He had been with the department 20 years.

He was known as a perseverant, passionate cop, Willis said.

“He made Monroe a better place by keeping top-quality law enforcement service as his consistent goal, and he will be greatly missed,” she said.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.