Poulsbo’s deputy chief named new Port Orchard police chief

PORT ORCHARD — Matthew Brown, currently Poulsbo’s deputy chief of police, has been selected to become Port Orchard’s new police chief by Mayor Rob Putaansuu.

Putaansuu announced Brown’s selection May 6 following completion of an extensive background check of the candidate. Two other candidates for the position — Troy Tamaras, police chief of College Place, Wash., and Orofino, Idaho, Police Chief Jeff Wilson — were named as finalists by Putaansuu on April 2.

Brown was hired as Poulsbo’s deputy chief in December 2017. The 19-year law enforcement veteran also was a patrol deputy for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, patrol sergeant for the Lakewood Police Department and chief criminal deputy for the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office. He also was an assistant SWAT team leader and part of the command staff at two district operations divisions.

The mayor said making a final decision from among the finalists was a difficult task.

“I don’t believe I could have gone wrong with any of them,” Putaansuu said. “In the end, it really came down to the best fit for me to work with, and to work with the other directors in the city.

“Matt will be an excellent addition to our management team here in Port Orchard.”

The mayor labeled his choice as “high energy, motivated and intelligent.” He said an additional bonus of Brown’s selection is that he already lives in Port Orchard.

“He expressed to me in our interviews that he hadn’t interviewed anywhere else yet to be a police chief,” Putaansuu said. “This opportunity came up in the city he lives in, and he pursued it — and I’m glad he did.”

The newly named police chief, who is married, said he is looking forward to policing the community in which he lives. Although his work commute will be significantly shorter than it is now, Brown said it will be difficult to leave Poulsbo.

“I like the guys and gals up here,” the deputy chief said following the announcement of his appointment.

”[Poulsbo’s] a great city, but this is just a really good opportunity for me to come down and continue to develop my career and work where I live.”

As he begins to settle in after taking office in mid-July, Brown said his first task will be to get to know his fellow department members and begin to build relationships in the community.

The newly selected Port Orchard police chief earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Puget Sound. He is a graduate of the School of Police and Command, Class 447, from Northwestern University and the Executive Leadership Institute, Class 165.

Brown’s hiring is subject to the approval of the Port Orchard City Council, which is expected to confirm his selection at its regular May 28 meeting. Chief Geoffrey Marti’s last day with the city is July 31.

The new police chief’s salary will be $133,840 yearly. The top of the position’s salary range is $155,000.