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Lake Stevens police report staffing shortfalls, hiring progress and operational changes
Summary
City police and the civil service commission discussed recruitment progress, a coming deputy chief retirement, academy training constraints, new community service officer hires, e-bike enforcement questions and plans for background investigators and a sergeant assessment center.
The Lake Stevens Civil Service Commission heard a staffing and recruiting update from the Lake Stevens Police Department on its staffing shortfalls, recent hires and operational impacts, including an impending deputy chief retirement.
The update, delivered by Dean Thomas, operations commander, and Chief Jeff Pizzizzo, said the department remains understaffed but has filled a new community service officer (CSO) position and recently sent an officer to the Burien training academy. Chief Pizzizzo said the city’s authorized sworn strength “includes the 2 additional people that we got from the council” for the 2025 budget, and the department is showing 38 authorized officer positions in internal reports, with one participant noting the count “should be 39.”
The staffing shortfall matters because of response capacity and workload. “A domestic minimum of 2 officers, a DUI, it could take 6 to 8 hours to process a DUI,” Pizzizzo said, adding that some calls now take “hours upon hours” to process. The department is requesting additional patrol officers and a support-services sergeant to form a proactive unit covering traffic, K-9 and community service officers, and to relieve other specialized assignments.
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