Pasco Police Chief Ken Roske Announces Retirement After Nearly Four Decades of Service

The City of Pasco announces the retirement of Police Chief Ken Roske, effective Friday, March 27, 2026, concluding a distinguished 39.5-year career in public safety service to the community.

Chief Roske began his career with the Pasco Police Department on September 2, 1986, as a Police Officer. Over the decades, he rose through the ranks, serving as Sergeant, Captain, and Deputy Police Chief before ultimately becoming Police Chief on October 7, 2019.

Throughout his career, Chief Roske demonstrated dedication to professional excellence and completed the FBI Academy. Early in his tenure, he received an Exceptional Performance Citation on May 16, 1988, recognizing courageous, outstanding, or unusual performance of duty.

During his time as Chief, Roske helped guide the department through significant progress, including strengthening professional standards, maintaining accreditation, spearheading the launch of regional academies through the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission with the Southeast Regional Campus, modernizing operations, and continuing to build trust with the community. He also prioritized succession planning and leadership development to ensure long-term organizational stability.

“On behalf of the community of Pasco, I want to thank Chief Roske for his decades of dedicated service,” said City Manager Harold Stewart. “He has helped shape a department that sets a high professional standard and earns the trust of the residents it serves. We wish him the very best but will greatly miss his experience and leadership.”

Reflecting on his career, Chief Roske shared that serving the City of Pasco has been one of the greatest honors of his professional life and expressed confidence that the department is well positioned for continued success through the strength of its leadership team, internal systems, and culture of accountability and service.

Chief Roske will continue working with City leadership to support a smooth and thoughtful transition ahead of his retirement.
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The City of Pasco extends its sincere appreciation to Chief Roske for nearly four decades of commitment to public safety and service to the community.

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