Bellingham’s second nationwide search for a new police chief has taken a crucial step forward. City officials and an outside recruiting firm have selected three semifinalists:
John DeRousse, a deputy chief in the Everett Police Department, has a local connection. He has worked in Everett since 1998, after four years as a Whatcom County Sheriff’s deputy.
Dennis Flynn has been commander of the Commerce City police in Colorado since 2018 after 30 years with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
Rebecca Mertzig is a lieutenant with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office. The Snohomish sheriff’s patrol area includes Stanwood, where Mertzig also serves as police chief. She’s been in law enforcement for 18 years.
Recruiting firm Prothman conducted preliminary interviews from a pool of 15 original applicants. The position was advertised with a salary range of $162,720 to $196,884, plus benefits.
The public will have an opportunity to learn more about DeRousse, Flynn and Mertzig at a virtual forum that starts at 5:30 p.m. on March 17. The police chief candidates will answer questions from the public that were submitted in January. Register in advance for the forum at engagebellingham.org/police-chief-2.
“We are eager to introduce semifinal candidates as part of our commitment to involving the community in selecting our new police chief,” Mayor Seth Fleetwood said in a press release.
After the forum, viewers will be able to fill out a survey at the same Engage Bellingham webpage. Select community members will also meet the semifinalists. The mayor told the City Council on Feb. 28 he expects to name a chief in the first week of April.
Bellingham police have been led by interim Chief Flo Simon since former Chief David Doll’s retirement in January 2021. A police chief search conducted in spring 2021 yielded four finalists, including Bellingham Deputy Chief Don Almer, but Fleetwood chose not to name a new chief from that group.
“During this important time of transition in law enforcement, we need a leader that fits our vision for the future of the Bellingham Police Department,” Fleetwood said at the time.
