Spokane Valley City Manager Appoints Kevin Richey as the New Spokane Valley Police Department Precinct Commander/Assistant Police Chief
The Spokane Valley City Manager has appointed Kevin Richey to the position of Precinct Commander/Assistant Police Chief of the Spokane Valley Police Department. He was one of three candidates Sheriff Knezovich provided for consideration to replace Mike Kittilstved, who previously held the position until his promotion to the rank of Undersheriff to oversee the Patrol Division for the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.
Since 2003 when the City of Spokane Valley incorporated, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office has proudly provided law enforcement services as the Spokane Valley Police Department, via contract, to the citizens of Spokane Valley.
On November 1, 2020, Kevin Richey was promoted to the rank of Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Inspector and officially accepted the appointed position of Spokane Valley Police Precinct Commander/Assistant Chief.
Precinct Commander/Assistant Chief Richey is a United States Air Force veteran and has served with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office since 2003. As a patrol deputy, he was assigned to patrol the unincorporated areas of south Spokane County. During that time, he served as a Field Training Officer, a Patrol Procedures Instructor, and as a Sheriff’s Office Firearms Instructor.
He earned a promotion to the rank of Detective, assigned to Crimes Against Persons Unit, where he served as a Domestic Violence Detective and a Sexual Assault Detective. Then Detective Richey sought and earned a promotion to the rank of Sergeant, where he supervised Patrol Deputies in Spokane Valley and the unincorporated areas of Spokane County. With his previous investigative experience as a Sexual Assault Unit Detective, he was tasked to be the Sexual Assault Unit Sergeant and supervisor.
When the opening for the Spokane Valley Police Precinct Commander/Assistant Chief position was announced due to the promotion and reassignment of previously appointed Precinct Commander/Assistant Chief Mike Kittilstved, Richey was selected as one of three highly qualified candidates for consideration by Sheriff Knezovich and Spokane Valley Chief David Ellis.
After the competitive and thorough interview process was concluded, Spokane Valley City Manager Mark Calhoun selected Kevin Richey for the position.
In addition, Spokane Valley Police Precinct Commander/Assistant Chief Kevin Richey has served as the Spokane County Deputy Sheriff’s Association President, the Washington Council of Police and Sheriff’s Executive board member. For the last 13 years, he has served on the Airway Heights City Council as a local elected official.