Chief of police resigns

Coulee Dam police Chief Pat Collins has retired.

“I would like to thank you all for the many years I have been with Coulee Dam,” Collins stated in a brief letter of resignation. “It is now time for me to move on. I have been offered another position and, after careful consideration, I have decided to accept the new position.”

Collins stated that his final day would be Sept. 25. Mayor Greg Wilder put Collins on paid administrative leave through the remainder of his time.

Collins has been with the town for 26 years.

The town started advertising for a new chief immediately, requesting that applicants have at least five years experience with adequate administrative experience, and offering a salary range of $4,771–$5,500 a month.

The resignation of Collins caught the attention of Grand Coulee’s city council members at their meeting last Tuesday, prompting a discussion that the vacancy could open up some opportunities.

There has been some interest expressed by council members in combining the two police departments.

There was no discussion as to how this might be pursued.

Coulee Dam Mayor Greg Wilder said he had spoken briefly with Grand Coulee Mayor Pro Tem Paul Townsend and is open to the idea, which would need to be studied thoroughly.

The two police departments have been chasing many of the same dollars in recent years, with Grand Coulee winning a large contract for law enforcement services with the Bureau of Reclamation, and Coulee Dam recently selected to serve longtime Grand Coulee customer, Electric City.