New Assistant Police Chief Begins Work In Bellevue

BELLEVUE, WA — Bellevue swore in its new assistant police chief this week, filling a key leadership role left vacant after Carl Kleinknecht's retirement last year.

Wendell J. Shirley arrives in Bellevue from the Santa Monica Police Department, where he worked for 26 years before retiring as a captain in 2019. Shirley said watching protests erupt nationwide last year led him to reconsider retirement and put his skills to use for building community trust.

"I spent the bulk of my career helping build relationships between the police and the community," Shirley said. "I pride myself on my track record of developing relationships based on trust, honesty, and mutual respect. There's certainly a lot of work to do, and I firmly believe my experience, training, and passion will be a valuable asset to Bellevue."

Bellevue Police Chief Steve Mylett said he considered several highly qualified candidates to fill the vacancy, but Shirley's reputation among his police department and community quickly made him a stand-out.

Shirley said he was attracted to the Bellevue job after chatting with Mylett and learning more about the Puget Sound region.

"Bellevue is a beautiful city with an outstanding police department," Shirley said. "The Chief's philosophy and the City's leadership all align with my values. I am excited and humbled by this opportunity."

Shirley officially began his role Monday and is tasked with overseeing the police department's operations division.