New Okanogan County Sheriff takes oath of office; makes leadership appointments

Okanogan County Undersheriff Mike Worden, left, Sheriff Jodie Barcus following each taking their oaths of office, April 6.

Okanogan County Sheriff Jodie Barcus was sworn into office Monday. She then administered the oaths of office to new Undersheriff Mike Worden, Gale Wall as Chief Civil Deputy and new 911 Telecommunicator Allen Parsons.

Undersheriff Worden has served the sheriff’s office for more than 31 years, most recently as the administrator of the 911 dispatch center and public safety radio network.

Worden graduated from Washington State University in 1994 with a degree in Criminal Justice and in 2012 earned a Master’s of Science in Strategic Leadership from Mountain State University.

Worden serves on multiple state boards:

- Vice Chair, Washington State 911 Advisory Committee

- Vice Chair, Washington State 911 Policy Subcommittee

- Washington Sheriffs and Police Chiefs Association’s representative, Washington State Telecommunicator Certification Board.

Worden says he looks forward to joining the administrative team and setting agency goals that benefit Okanogan County residents.

Chief Wall has been with the sheriff’s office records division for 20 years as a civil records deputy.

Parsons is a new 911 Telecommunicator/Dispatcher. Parsons is retired from a career in the U.S. Army.