On November 13, 2023, Snoqualmie Mayor Katherine Ross announced she had appointed Interim Police Chief Brian Lynch to be the permanent chief of the Snoqualmie Police Department, effective December 1, 2023, pending Snoqualmie City Council confirmation.
Lynch has been serving as Interim Police Chief since June 2023. Prior to that, he served as Snoqualmie-North Bend Police Captain.
Interim Chief Lynch, an unincorporated King County resident living near North Bend, has over two decades of law enforcement experience, serving in the Black Diamond and Enumclaw Police Departments before joining Snoqualmie in 2022. For three years, he also served as the Commander of the Coalition of Small Police Agencies Major Crimes Task Force, overseeing detectives from 13 different cities. Before starting in law enforcement, he worked in the emergency medical services field.
North Bend Mayor Rob McFarland and City Administrator David Miller served on the police chief candidates interview panels, alongside members from police, fire, human resources, several Snoqualmie councilmembers, and other departments.
“Interim Chief Lynch has forged strong connections with his officers and the entire department, including those who support operations,” said Mayor McFarland. “His commitment to protecting the communities of North Bend and Snoqualmie is clear.”
The City of North Bend contracts with the City of Snoqualmie Police Department for law enforcement and police services. Currently, North Bend’s contract for police services does not include direct involvement in hiring, extending beyond participation in the interview process. As such, the Snoqualmie City Council will consider the appointment of Brian Lynch as the permanent Snoqualmie Police Chief at its November 27, 2023 City Council meeting.
