The towns of Twisp and Winthrop are facing a difficult challenge in their search for new law enforcement officers at a time when many municipalities across the country are struggling to attract candidates.
The Methow Valley News reports the town of Winthrop is searching for a new marshal following the retirement announcement of Doug Johnson, who had been with the department since 2017 and was promoted to marshal in 2019. Johnson has promised to assist in the transition to his successor and will retire at the end of May.
Meanwhile, Twisp is seeking a new police chief to replace Paul Budrow, who was elected Okanogan County sheriff in November 2022 after serving as chief for over a decade. The town had no applicants for the position as of last month.
Both towns currently have two police officers on staff.