Shawn Boyle Named New Yakima Police Chief

Yakima City Manager Vicki Baker has announced she has selected longtime Yakima Police Department (YPD) member Shawn Boyle to be Yakima’s new police chief.  Boyle has been serving as interim police chief since last summer following the retirement of Matt Murray, who had served as Yakima police chief since 2019.  Boyle will be sworn in as Yakima police chief during the Yakima City Council’s February 4th regular meeting.

“Shawn has demonstrated outstanding leadership throughout his career with the Yakima Police Department and I am confident he is the right person to lead the department into the future,” said Baker.  “Shawn has filled numerous roles in the department and is intimately familiar with each aspect of its operation.  He is highly capable and highly respected,” said Baker.

Following a 5-year stint as a U.S. Army military police officer from 1991 to 1996, Boyle joined the YPD as a corrections officer.  In 1997, Boyle became a YPD officer and joined the department’s SWAT Team in 1999.  In 2007, he was promoted to sergeant and was named team leader of a regional SWAT team.

In 2015, Boyle was promoted again to lieutenant and oversaw several YPD operations, including the Traffic Unit, the Field Training Officer program, and the School Resource Officer Unit, while also serving as commander of a regional tactical team.  In 2019, he was promoted to captain and served as Patrol Division commander, Criminal Investigations Division commander, and Yakima Valley Special Investigations Unit commander, and was responsible for various other operational elements of the YPD.

“I have devoted my career to the Yakima community and the Yakima Police Department and am honored to now serve as police chief,” said Boyle.  “The YPD is a truly professional and outstanding law enforcement agency and I am proud of all of the members of the department and their commitment to ensuring the community’s safety.”

The YPD has an annual budget of about $36 million and more than 170 employees.