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Mukilteo police chief asks council to convert overhire to permanent officer funded by opioid settlements through 2029
Summary
Police Chief Ollian asked the council to convert an existing overhire into a permanent commissioned officer (raising authorized sworn count from 29 to 30). The chief said opioid settlement and public-safety funds would cover the position through 2029/2030; council asked for sensitivity analysis, ride-alongs and a look at long-term funding risks before voting.
Mukilteo Police Chief Ollian briefed the City Council on persistent staffing shortages and asked council to convert an existing overhire position into a fully funded full-time equivalent (FTE), increasing the authorized commissioned ranks from 29 to 30.
Ollian described multiple causes of short staffing including increased protected leave, lengthy hiring and field-training attrition, and the department's operational demands. He said the department routinely sees about 2.7 departures per year and that roughly 30% of the force is within retirement age in the next three years.
On funding, the chief said the city will begin 2026 "with approximately $380,000 in the Fund" and that opioid-settlement receipts are expected to provide roughly $66,000 to $70,000 annually from 2026 to 2031, with payments continuing through 2035 at diminishing levels. "My request for the council... would be to convert the overhire position and just convert it to a fully funded FTE position," Ollian said, adding that the opioid and public-safety funds would cover the position with minimal budget impact until about 2030.
Council members expressed support for addressing staffing shortages but pressed for more financial sensitivity analysis (what happens if settlement revenue declines, and which fund would absorb ongoing costs after 2030). Several members suggested ride-alongs with police and fire to better understand operational strain; others urged caution and asked for the next quarterly financial report before committing to a permanent headcount increase.
No formal vote occurred at the work session; staff said the item will return for a formal motion and vote at a future meeting after additional budget detail is provided.
