East Wenatchee approves interlocal agreement for 1 chief for 2 police departments

The briefing

East Wenatchee councilmembers voted unanimously Tuesday to sign the interlocal agreement making Chief Rick Johnson the police chief for both East Wenatchee and Wenatchee. Mayor Jerrilea Crawford stressed the agreement does not merge the departments and does not obligate either city to fund or supply the other's resources. Johnson begins the dual role Sept. 1 under an agreement running through Dec. 31, 2027, with Wenatchee paying East Wenatchee $17,180 monthly for 68% of his compensation.