LCB forms administrative support/STEM team, highlights data and forensic capacity

The Liquor and Cannabis Board announced organizational changes and new technical capacity at its May 13 Executive Management Team meeting, saying the April reorganization groups specialist units to improve investigations and free operations captains for field work.

Captain Josh Bolender said the newly formed administrative support team consolidates the examiner/analyst team, chemist unit and training unit to provide concentrated STEM and technical support for investigations and field operations. "This team was formed in April," Bolender said, adding the reorganization is intended to let cannabis operations captains spend more time in the field.

Staff described the chemist team (three analysts led by Dr. Trumbull and Harsho Virk, with one vacancy) that analyzes lab reports, looks for unauthorized pesticides and contaminants, and supports chemical investigations. The examiner/data team was described as having four data analysts who produced 475 reports last year and made over 1,200 licensee contacts in support of investigations and traceability audits.

Deputy Chief Paul Nagrel placed the reorg in a broader staffing context, saying Washington’s law enforcement per-capita figure is about 1.4 officers per 1,000 residents (as of 2026), below the national average of 2.3, and that reduced staffing concentrates response on higher-risk public-safety issues. An agency official reported the division has about 120 commission staff and 15 vacancies; staff said the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) will add capacity for longer-term diversion and financial investigations.

The board praised the presentation and asked for continued communication and storytelling about the division’s work. No policy or budget vote was taken; presenters said some team hires remain in progress.