Richland Police Chief Brigit Clary Announces Retirement

The City of Richland Chief of Police Brigit Clary today announced her retirement, effective January 1, 2024. 

“I am humbled and grateful for the trust placed in me by the City, the community, and by our officers to lead the Richland Police Department (RPD),” said Chief Clary. “The RPD staff, both sworn and civilian, are the most caring and professional individuals I’ve had the pleasure of working with. I take comfort in knowing the high level of service the community will continue to receive after my retirement. After over 25 years in law enforcement, I am excited to start this new chapter.” 

Chief Clary has led the Richland Police Department (RPD) since January 2022, having served as interim chief before being officially appointed to the role in April 2022. The first female Chief of Police in Richland’s history, Chief Clary joined the RPD in 2017 as a lateral with previous supervisor experience and quickly rose through the ranks. She served as a sergeant, lieutenant, and captain before being promoted to deputy chief in November 2021. 

Some of Chief Clary’s accomplishments during her tenure include forming both Drone and Major Incident Reconstruction Teams, securing multiple grants to support new Officer wellness programs, establishing a recruiting team and mentorship program for new hires, and redeploying RPD’s Traffic Unit. She was also responsible for rebranding the department in March 2023, delivering the newest patch and badge designs, which have been well-received by the Richland community. 
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“I wish to commend Chief Clary for her leadership of our police department,” Richland City Manager, Jon Amundson, said. “Chief Clary leaves a legacy of strength, resilience, and exceptional dedication and commitment to our city’s residents and police department. I have initiated a national search for our next Chief of Police and will appoint Deputy Chief of Police David Neher to serve as interim chief after Clary’s retirement.”