Public invited to meet Camas police chief finalists April 19

The city of Camas will host a public meet-and-greet event to introduce its latest round of police chief finalists. The event is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, at the Camas Public Library, 625 N.E. Fourth Ave., Camas. 

Participants will have a chance to speak with the police chief candidates and learn more about their interest in leading the Camas Police Department. 

The City has not yet released the names of the police chief candidates. 

The new chief will replace longtime Camas Police Chief Mitch Lackey, who announced his retirement in April 2022. 

City leaders introduced five police chief finalists in December 2022, and Camas Mayor Steve Hogan said in February that he had narrowed his decision to two top contenders, saying the two finalists “were both excellent candidates, each with unique strengths they could bring to the position.”

Less than one month later, the mayor announced that the city would continue its police chief search and that Lackey would postpone his retirement until the city could hire his replacement. 

The longtime police chief, who has served on the Camas Police Department for more than 30 years, told city leaders in April 2022, that he was honored to have served the city for so many years. 

“I think the timing is right for a switch in the (police) department, and I will work with the mayor and the city administrator so that we have a real smooth transition,” Lackey said in 2022.