Police Chief Edgar Reinfeld appointed as interim City Administrator

WENATCHEE — Mayor Mike Poirier has appointed Chief of Police Edgar Reinfeld of the Wenatchee Police Department as the Interim City Administrator, an additional assignment, following the departure of Laura Gloria, the previous City Administrator. A nationwide search is currently underway for a permanent replacement.

Reinfeld’s passion for and fluency with the City is unquestionable, having worked in local government for three decades since he started as a coach operator for Link Transit. He joined the City of Wenatchee and the Wenatchee Police Department in 1999 as a dispatcher for police, fire and ambulances, and later served at Public Works as a water utility worker. During his initial five years with the City, Reinfeld developed new dispatch protocols and optimized radio procedures for seventeen regional fire departments. He also modernized the water metering program by converting the water system to radio-read equipment.

In 2004, Reinfeld became an Officer with the Wenatchee Police Department. Since then, he has served in various capacities including traffic officer, SWAT operator, detective, volunteer coordinator, and patrol sergeant. In 2016, he was promoted to Captain, where he spearheaded efforts to achieve departmental accreditation, transitioned to a centrally-managed policy manual, and managed strategic planning. He became Chief of Police in July 2024 and will continue to serve in that role throughout this interim assignment.

He is also still a United States Air Force Reservist, holding the rank of Chief Master Sergeant and serving as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. He has led numerous overseas temporary duty assignments in Japan, Germany, Peru, and Scotland, providing operational support for air mobility operations during both exercises and real-world events.

His actions in the military have earned him three Meritorious Service Medals and an Air and Space Forces Commendation Medal. As a Chief Master Sergeant, he is highly regarded as a public speaker, a developer and instructor of personnel development materials, and has served as the Command Chief Master Sergeant for the 446th Airlift Wing, acting as the primary advisor to the Wing Commander for over 2,000 assigned personnel.

Locally, Reinfeld has actively participated in community groups like the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival, the Wenatchee Downtown Association, and the Community for Advancement of Family Education (CAFE), among others, to foster community events, programs, and partnerships that benefit residents across North Central Washington. Mayor Poirier said of the appointment that Chief Reinfeld is the “best and most logical choice with his broad knowledge and skillset established through dedication to and his caring ability for the City of Wenatchee.”

Reinfeld is no stranger even to serving fill-in roles; prior to becoming Chief of Police, he once acted as a replacement trivia host at the now-defunct Badger Mountain Brewery when the regular host was away, and did an admirable job.

In a conversation with Reinfeld, he was very positive about the appointment, saying as Chief of Police he’d obviously already been working alongside the mayor and City administrators, and that work had been very effectively delegated among other capable public servants immediately after the resignation of Laura Gloria. “It’s been our biggest hope,” he said, “that this will be a temporary thing and that we can find a permanent replacement soon.”

Even in a temporary situation, Reinfeld displays the same willingness to serve in whatever capacity that’s needed from him until he can once again return his full focus to the Police Department he’s passionate about leading.

This appointment becomes effective on August 29.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media