The longtime Washington officer is taking the reins of the Columbia Falls Police Department

A veteran police officer from Yakima, Washington, is the new police chief in Columbia Falls. Chad Stephens was recently appointed to the position by the Columbia Falls City Council.

Stephens was a former lieutenant with the Yakima Police Department. He began his career there about 30 years ago, as a reserve officer at the age of 21, he said in an interview last week. He began working as a correctional officer in Yakima County and then joined the city’s police force as an officer in 1995, working his way up the department and holding positions such as detective, sergeant and acting chief during his tenure.

The Yakima department employs about 150 people in the city of 97,000. But he has long wanted to live in Montana.

“My wife (Jodi) and I have been coming to Montana for years and we really like it,” he said.

When he saw the position was open here, it was a natural transition. He retired from Yakima at the end of September and assumed the position here the next day.

Stephens and his wife are outdoor enthusiasts, he said. They love hiking, hunting, fishing, and snowshoeing, and this area offers all of that and more.

They have four adult children and five grandchildren.

He said his law enforcement philosophy is to be proactive.

“The best way is to be visible and connect with people,” he said.

He looks forward to working with Columbia Falls’ young police force, which currently has 11 officers and will add a 12th by the summer.

“The officers are the better generalists in a department like this,” he said. “They do their own follow-up work.”

He has already received high praise for them. They recently solved a case in which a man allegedly committed various property crimes in Columbia Falls neighborhoods.

As they followed the clues, they learned that the man, Louis A. Surrell, was living in a tent at the top of Columbia Mountain. They went there and arrested him, Stephens said.

Surrell is charged with numerous offenses in this case and items were allegedly found that he would not normally have had as a transient.

“I thought it was a solid piece of police work,” he said.

Stephens recognized the officers on social media.

He also recognized former Police Chief Clint Peters, who retired in August.

“Peters has done a fantastic job setting the department up for success,” he said.

Stephens will look to continue this course and provide more training, including future training with the Flathead County SWAT team.