Meet Jim Quackenbush, Ridgefield’s next police chief
After a national search, City Manager Steve Stuart has tapped Washougal’s operations captain to lead the Ridgefield Police Department. He gets sworn in at Davis Park on September 22, and the whole town is invited. Hot dogs are involved.
Ridgefield has a new top cop. City Manager Steve Stuart has appointed Jim Quackenbush as the next Chief of the Ridgefield Police Department, wrapping up the search that kicked off back in April when Chief Cathy Doriot announced her retirement. Quackenbush comes to us from across the county, where he currently serves as Operations Captain for the Washougal Police Department, and he’ll be formally sworn in on Tuesday, September 22, at a Meet the Chief community picnic at Davis Park.
Translation: you get to watch a swearing-in ceremony, eat a free hot dog, and shake the new chief’s hand, all before dinner. That’s peak Ridgefield civic engagement, and we fully expect to see you there.
Who is Jim Quackenbush?
Quackenbush brings 27 years of law enforcement experience, and his résumé reads like a Pacific Northwest road trip with a detour through Idaho. He started out as a patrol officer with the Portland Police Bureau and worked his way up through the ranks to Acting Captain. From there he moved to the Boise Police Department, where he served as a Lieutenant and then a Captain. Today he’s the Operations Captain in Washougal.
Here’s why that mix matters for us. He’s led inside big-city departments, and he’s led in a small, growing Southwest Washington city. If you’ve driven past any field in Ridgefield lately and watched it turn into a neighborhood, you know that second part describes us exactly. The city also points to his extensive background in community policing, which is kind of the whole ballgame in a town where the officers know your kid’s name, your dog’s name, and which coffee you order at Lava Java.
How he got the job
This was not a handshake deal. According to the city, the recruitment drew applicants from all over the country, and finalists were evaluated by community members, the Ridgefield Police Department itself, regional law enforcement leaders, and the City Council. That’s a lot of people who had to agree.
“In a highly competitive hiring process, Jim Quackenbush rose to the top as a leader that will listen and learn our needs, lead our law enforcement team with community focus, bring innovative ideas to keep getting better, and come with the experience to guide us along the path ahead,” said City Manager Steve Stuart.
His first priority: listen
Quackenbush isn’t showing up with a bulldozer. His stated plan for the early days is to get to know the department and the town before he starts changing things.
“I’m honored to serve as Ridgefield’s next Police Chief. My first priority will be to listen and learn—getting to know our employees, our community, and all of the things that make Ridgefield special,” Quackenbush said. “As the City grows, I look forward to working together to ensure our Police Department remains professional, responsive, and connected to the people we serve.”
Mayor Matt Cole framed the hire as part of the bigger question this town is always wrestling with: how to grow without losing the thing that makes people move here in the first place.
“Ridgefield remains a fast-growing city, and every decision we make about our growth comes back to staying true to who we are,” Cole said. “A big part of that is our approach to public safety, and the mission there is straightforward. Know the people you serve, and be invested in our community. Jim understands that mission. Our residents should expect nothing less, and I’m looking forward to them meeting him.”
Passing the badge
Quackenbush has big boots to fill, and that’s the mayor’s phrase, not ours. Chief Cathy Doriot grew up in Ridgefield, joined the department in 1989, and worked her way through every rank from officer to sergeant to lieutenant before being sworn in as chief in March 2023. When she announced her retirement in April, she agreed to stay on until her successor was hired so the handoff would be smooth.
In her three years at the top, she grew the department by adding a detective, two sergeants, and four officer positions, and she secured sustainable funding for public safety going forward. She also launched RPD’s drone program and brought in body-worn and car-mounted cameras. And the Pink Patch Project she started in Ridgefield back in 2018 to raise money for breast cancer support has since spread to nearly every law enforcement agency in Clark County. Not a bad legacy for a local kid.
Meet the Chief: Tuesday, September 22
Here’s the fun part. The city is throwing a casual community picnic at Davis Park so everyone can meet Chief Quackenbush and watch him take the oath. The Ridgefield Lions Club is handling free hot dogs and chips, and there will be yard games and kids’ activities to keep the small humans busy.
There’s a second reason to go. Ridgefield’s National Night Out, usually the department’s big annual meet-and-greet with the community, got cancelled this year. So this is doubling as the makeup date: the whole Ridgefield Police Department will be there, not just the new guy. If you’ve been meaning to thank an officer for showing up when you needed them, this is your window.
Meet the Chief Community Event
Quick answers
Who chose the new chief?
City Manager Steve Stuart made the appointment after a recruitment process that included evaluations by community members, the Ridgefield Police Department, regional law enforcement leaders, and the City Council.
Where is he coming from?
He currently serves as Operations Captain for the Washougal Police Department. Before that he was a Lieutenant and Captain with the Boise Police Department, and he started his career with the Portland Police Bureau, where he rose to Acting Captain.
Is the Meet the Chief event free?
Yes. It’s a free community picnic, and the Ridgefield Lions Club is serving hot dogs and chips at no cost.
What happens to Chief Doriot?
She’s retiring after more than 37 years with the department. She stayed on through the hiring process to make sure the transition went smoothly. If you see her around town, thank her.
Who do I contact with questions about the appointment?
The city’s contact is City Manager Steve Stuart at [email protected] or 360-887-3557.
More from Meanwhile in Ridgefield
Come say hi on the 22nd. Eat a hot dog, lose a yard game to a sergeant, shake the new chief’s hand, and tell him what makes this town worth protecting. He says listening is his first priority, so let’s give him plenty of material. Welcome to Ridgefield, Chief.
