PHOTO BY MEGHAN ERKKINEN

FIFE’S NEW ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF MARK MEARS IS TAKING ON SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THE CITY FACES, SUCH AS DRUG AND PROSTITUTION ISSUES AND TRAFFIC, WHICH HE CALLS “JUST INCREDIBLE. ”

Fife police department welcomes newest member

By Meghan Erkkinen

Fife’s newest Assistant Police Chief Mark Mears is settling into his new job, preparing for the challenges the city faces. Mears, who comes to the department from Sumner, is ready to take them on.

Some of the city’s challenges are due in large part to its industrial nature – there is a good deal of identity theft, fraud and traffic issues, Mears said. The city also struggles with a transient population and drug and prostitution issues.

But what Mears finds refreshing is the way the city goes about addressing these issues.

“I think what’s gone really well for Fife is not only is their patrol really active, but with their [problem-oriented policing] unit they’ve made headway on these issues,” he said.  

Mears admits there has been a learning curve, but said one of his main goals is to continue what the department has been doing.

“We’re going to focus on the problem-oriented policing and continue to build structure in the department to continue providing good service,” he said.

Mears joins the department after 20 years as a police officer. He admits his initial attraction to the profession came from watching police shows on television.

“I thought the career looked exciting and interesting,” he said.

Mears served in Port Orchard, Wash., and Idaho before taking a position in Sumner, where he spent 11 years. He joined the Fife Police Department earlier this year, where he said he felt comfortable because he was familiar with the people and the organization.

In his position as assistant chief, Mears is responsible for running the operations of the department, including patrols, investigations, corrections and communications. Mears has only good words for his co-workers in the department and in the city.

“Everyone’s been really great,” he said. “They’ve made my transition really easy. I feel fortunate to work here. It’s a good job and it’s a good community.”

Mears lives in Bonney Lake with his wife, with whom he has two children, aged 21 and 17.

In his spare time, Mears likes to visit his property in Utah and hunt and fish. He also enjoys playing tennis with his daughter and spending time with his family, as well as writing – he is working on two books right now.

He said he is happy with his career and his position in Fife.

“I’m really liking my job,” he said. “It’s an outstanding profession, it provides outstanding work and it’s ever changing.”

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