CITY OF RENTON
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2018
Contacts
David A. Leibman, Commander, Renton Police Department, 425-430-7573
Preeti Shridhar, City of Renton Deputy Public Affairs Administrator, 425-430-6569
City of Renton Police Chief Kevin Milosevich (left) will retire at end of month after more than 12 years as chief and 33 years with the department. Deputy Chief Ed VanValey will take over as chief on October 1. (Denis Law photo)
Renton Police Chief Kevin Milosevich to retire on September 28
Mayor Denis Law to appoint Deputy Chief Ed VanValey to replace the 33-year veteran
RENTON, WA -- City of Renton Police Chief Kevin Milosevich has announced his retirement effective September 28, after 33 years with the department, including more than 12 years as chief.
“Kevin has been an invaluable member of this administration and we will truly miss having his leadership, wisdom and support,” said Renton Mayor Denis Law. “He built a leadership team that has resulted in a department committed to reducing crime while also making people feel safer in our community through positive interaction with our residents and businesses.”
Mayor Law indicated he will appoint Deputy Chief Ed VanValey to replace Chief Milosevich.
“Renton is a great community, and I have enjoyed working for the city for the past 33 years,” said Chief Milosevich. “The department has been well supported over the years by the community, the council and the mayor.
Under his leadership, the Renton Police Department has built strong relationships with the community. He, along with his command staff and officers, are regular visitors to Renton area churches, schools and businesses, establishing mutually beneficial lines of communication. This community engagement led to the creation of RAAP, which is a partnership between the city, the department and the Renton African-American Pastoral Group. The department also initiated “coffee with a cop” meetings where residents could sit down and talk with officers in an informal setting, and established a teen academy, designed to explain departmental operations.
“Kevin has been one of the most accessible and approachable police chiefs in our region,” said Council President Ed Prince. “Renton residents regularly saw him at neighborhood picnics and other events engaging with the community.”
“Effective law enforcement is based on relationships,” said Chief Milosevich. “For the department to be successful, we must develop and sustain relationships with our community. As chief, the most important role I have in the organization is to hire and promote department members who espouse the values of the organization. I often tell department members that not only am I the police chief for the 160 members of the department, but also for the 104,000 citizens that we serve, and I must take this into consideration as I lead the organization.”
His department took the lead in using technology to increase accuracy and save time and money during investigations. The department was one of the first in the area to employ drones to photograph accident scenes and process the images with high-tech photogrammetry to create a detailed 3D image.
Chief Milosevich was hired by the Renton Police Department in 1985 after three years with the City of Kelso (WA) Police Department. During his career in Renton he worked in all major divisions of the department. He was promoted to sergeant in 1992, commander in 1996, and deputy chief in 2001.
He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Seattle University and graduated with the 198th session of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy.
“I am very proud of the mayor’s appointment of Deputy Chief Ed VanValey to be the next police chief,” said Milosevich. “Ed has all the tools to raise the bar and improve how the department delivers services in the future.”
Deputy Chief VanValey is a native of Renton, a graduate of Lindbergh High School and a member of the Renton Police Department since 1998. He was promoted to sergeant in 2008, commander in 2012 and deputy chief in 2013. He was deployed for 18 months from 2003-2005 to the Middle East as a captain in the United States Army in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and retired in September 2016 with the rank of major in the Washington National Guard.
VanValey graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Justice. He was commissioned as second lieutenant in the Army National Guard.
“Ed has been a valued member of the department for many years, and has earned the respect of his colleagues through his leadership positions,” said Mayor Law. “He’s connected to the community and will do a great job leading the department.”
“Like Kevin, Ed has also been extremely accessible and approachable,” said Council President Prince. “I am excited to see the skills he brings to the position and know the department will continue to be in good hands.”
“I am truly honored to be the next Renton police chief,” said VanValey. “The opportunity to lead this professional group of amazing men and women in the city I call home is special. Chief Milosevich has significantly raised the level of performance and quality of the department and I am grateful to have his support moving forward.”
VanValey will begin his new duties as chief on October 1.
City of Renton news releases
About the City of Renton
The City of Renton, Washington, with a population of 104,100 (2018), is located on the southeast shore of Lake Washington, just south of Seattle. Renton's strong economic base, diverse marketplace and favorable business climate have attracted the attention of nationally recognized companies that are providing employees and their families an outstanding quality of life. Renton is the home of Boeing, PACCAR, IKEA, the Seattle Seahawks, and the eternal resting place of Jimi Hendrix. More information can be found on our website, news releases, or Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor pages.
###