Published March 2 2015
Stephen Mylett set to be Bellevue's next top commander
This morning Bellevue City Manager Brad Miyake announced that Stephen Mylett has accepted the city's conditional offer to be its next police chief.
"Finding the best for Bellevue has been our top priority since we began this recruitment last summer," said Miyake. "After a very extensive and thorough search, the community, including our police officers, voiced resounding support for Chief Mylett. I am confident he will do an outstanding job serving the Bellevue community, leading the police department and working with our regional partners."
Mylett was one of four candidates who interviewed in Bellevue last Thursday and Friday. The two-day visit included tours of the city and police facilities, as well as meetings with the City Council, the community, police department staff, city employees and the city's leadership team. The offer announced today (Monday) is contingent on the completion of additional background checks and an on-site visit by Miyake and Interim Police Chief Jim Montgomery planned for later this week. Once the offer is finalized, Mylett is expected to report to duty in early April.
"It is with a great deal of humility that I proudly accepted the city manager's offer to be Bellevue's next police chief," said Mylett, who is currently the police chief in Southlake, Texas. "I am looking forward to becoming a member of the Bellevue team and leading the dedicated men and women of the Bellevue Police Department. Together, we will continue to partner with the community to move the city forward as one of the safest in the state and country."
The city launched the police chief search last summer. As part of that process, the council, staff, residents, local businesses and other stakeholders provided input on the qualities they desired in the next chief. After the first round of on-site interviews in October 2014 did not result in a hiring, Miyake opted for a more targeted approach, led by the Police Executive Forum (PERF), a firm who specializes in law enforcement recruitments.