Pasco, WA

Deputy Chief Ken Roske

Chief Ken Roske was appointed Pasco Police Chief in October 2019 becoming the first Police Chief chosen from within the department in the last fifty years.

With a department of 96 employees that continues to grow, Chief Roske oversees a department that strives at leading progressive, community-centric policing innovations focusing on public safety.

Chief Roske started his career with the Pasco Police Department in 1986, first serving as a Police Officer, where he worked in multiple assignments as a K9 Handler, Field Training Officer, and later advancing to Sergeant and Watch Commander. Continuing through his career at Pasco, he was promoted to Captain in 2004, spending time overseeing both Field Operations and Support Operations. In 2017 he was promoted to Deputy Chief where he oversaw internal operations and community outreach. During this time he successfully led the police department through state and national accreditation programs, making Pasco one of only two police agencies in Washington state to achieve dual accreditation through WASPC and CALEA.

Implemented in 2015, Chief Roske was instrumental in developing Pasco Police Department’s nationally recognized social media program, credited with improving community trust and engagement. He is a technical advisor and instructor for the national “Coffee with a Cop” program, which is one of the most successful community policing programs in the country.

The Chief has served as an Incident Commander for the Tri-City Regional SWAT team, State President of the Washington Fraternal Order of Police and currently holds the position of senior committee member for the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service in Washington, D.C.

Chief Roske holds a Master of Science Degree in Organizational Leadership and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Management, both from Union Institute & University in Cincinatti, Ohio. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Session 242, and the Northwest Law Enforcement Command College. Chief Roske also holds an Executive Certification from Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission and an Executive Development Certificate from the California Police Chiefs Association.

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