Blaine City Council unanimously approved Rodger Funk’s employment contract as Blaine police chief in a 6-0 vote with councilmember Eric Davidson absent. Funk’s first day is expected to be May 30.
Funk’s salary will start at $165,000 annually and he is required to live within a 30-minute commute of Blaine City Hall.
Funk was one of four finalists for the police chief position left vacant after former chief Donnell Tanksley was elected Whatcom County Sheriff. Funk has spent the past 28 years at the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, where he has held several high-ranking positions, the most recent being chief inspector at WCSO’s professional standards office.
Raised in Whatcom County, Funk earned his bachelor’s degree in law and justice at Central Washington University and holds a master’s degree in management from American Military University, a private online university system.
City manager Mike Harmon named Funk as the police chief candidate last week after 16 candidates applied from across the U.S. The majority of the interview team – made up of citizens, elected and appointed officials, and law enforcement officials in Whatcom County – recommended hiring Funk.
Funk told councilmembers one of the reasons he applied for the position was because he wanted his job to have more community involvement. Funk also said during the meeting he would like the police department to spend more time in Blaine schools.
“That’s the most rewarding part of the job,” he said of the community involvement.
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