West Richland police captain named Sunnyside police chief

Sunnyside has tapped Albert Escalera, a West Richland captain and former state trooper, as its next police chief.

Escalera, who lives in the Tri-Cities, will start May 1, provided he passes a physical and psychological evaluation, said City Manager Don Day.

“It’s a pretty much done deal,” Day said in a phone interview Thursday. “It’s pretty much done.”

Escalera will be paid $95,800 per year, nearly the top of the city’s chief salary range.

The city has been without a permanent leader of its 30-officer force for about two years since Ed Radder retired.

Day chose Escalera from a pool of 18 applicants gathered in a national search. He brought five finalists to Sunnyside earlier this week for interviews and a public gathering. Earlier Thursday he narrowed the list to three.

This story was originally published April 3, 2014 at 4:52 PM with the headline "West Richland police captain named Sunnyside police chief."