EVERETT, JUNE 9: Six new police officers are now on patrol in Everett after taking the oath following their graduation from the new Washington State Criminal Justice Training Academy in Arlington, Wash.
According to Everett Police spokesperson, Officer Natalie Given, the city added six new cadet graduates on June 3. Three officers retired earlier this year and the current Everett patrol staffing has 10 vacancies.
The six new hires, “All graduated in the same WSCJTC Northwest Regional Basic Law Enforcement Academy class just last week”, according to Given. The website for the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission proclaims its goal is “Training the guardians of democracy.”
Chief Robert Goetz says, the “Oath is more than a ceremony. It’s a commitment to uphold the Constitution, enforce the law fairly and earn the trust of the community they serve.”
Given tells EverettPost.com, “As our officers are predominantly attending the new academy now, rather than the location in Burien, classes are held less frequently but with a larger proportion of Everett Police recruits. As such, we’re seeing 6-8 graduates at a time rather than 1 or 2 on a rolling basis. Some of the graduates from last week’s swear-in were hired with the department in September/October of 2025. The Northwest campus (in Arlington) currently holds 2 classes a year, so wait times for the academy can be longer.”
That means none of the six new Everett officers hired were lateral additions switching from other law enforcement jurisdictions.
Given says the hiring process includes “the background investigation, which takes anywhere from 30-45 days. Prior to receiving an offer letter, applicants undergo background interviews, a polygraph, medical & psych evaluations, and lastly a chief’s interview. Then new hires must attend the Basic Law Enforcement Academy, which covers 720 hours of material. Following graduation, new hires proceed to four months of field training with a field training officer, followed by a probational year.“
According to The Northwest Regional Academy, which opened 15 months ago, “this new academy will provide training closer to home for officers in the Northwest region, supporting local recruitment and modern policing education.”
Since 2021 in Everett, the department has hired 16 officers on a rolling basis. One officer was hired in 2021, 8 in 2022, five in 2023, and two in 2024. Simultaneously the department experienced routine retirements, lateral transfers, or resignations from the department, all of which impacted staffing, according to department data.
Everett Police has a dedicated recruiter, officer Tessalyn Sutton, who succeeded officer Danny Rabelos, when he retired in May. Recruiters, according to Given, are tasked with community outreach, attending recruitment events, and guiding officers through the application process.
If candidates for patrol officer are interested in applying with Everett Police, those individuals are directed to visit the department website to learn more or contact the recruiter: [email protected] or by phone 425-257-8412.
Initial testing to become a police officer for the Everett Police Department, and most departments in Washington, is facilitated through Public Safety Testing. You can sign up to take the test by clicking here.