University Place Police Chief Takes New Assignment

University Place is again searching for a new top cop.

Last week, city leaders learned that Rusty Wilder – who was – will be accepting a new assignment within the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department by the end of this week.

That means University Place and Sheriff Paul Pastor will be working to fill the position, a process that in the three prior tries has taken about 90 days to complete from start to finish.

Mayor Ken Grassi said although he would have love to have seen Wilder stay with UP longer, he acknowledged that the outgoing chief accomplished much during his tenure.

“I think Rusty did an awesome job,” he said. “It was a short time, but he was very effective here.”

Wilder – who couldn’t immediately be reached for comment – took over a lean department that was still learning how to operate in light of budget cuts.

But over the last year and a half, he helped secure the hiring of .

He also helped guide the relocation of the University Place Police Department from the West Pierce Fire & Rescue Public Safety Building to its

Grassi said Wilder, who has a background in architecture, was instrumental of the layout of the Civic Building police station.

Ultimately, Pastor and University Place City Manager Steve Sugg will decide who fills the position. In the meantime, longtime - the sheriff's Officer of the Year - will serve as interim chief.

When asked how much leverage University Place has in determining who's appointed chief, Grassi said that is being negotiated now, and the city hopes to have a “bigger field of candidates” that what it has had in the past.

“I’m confident we’ll get someone who’s a good match for the community,  someone who believes in the community,” Grassi said.

Patch will have more on this story later.