Helping Others

Eatonville PD seamlessly blends into community fabric

Story and photos by Rick Stedman

“Protect and Serve” is the motto of the Eatonville Police Department. While only five officers serve nearly 3,000 community residents, they have things covered.

The EPD officers are:
• Eatonville Police Department Chief Jason Laliberte. Jason transferred from Pierce County Sheriff’s Department five years ago.
• Officer Kevin Wade. Kevin was hired in April 2000, after serving for several years as a deputy sheriff in Georgia.
• Officer Jason McGuire. Jason joined the team in February 2001 after serving as a security police officer with the U.S. Air Force.
• Officer Shauna Anderson. Shauna came on board in November 2007. EPD was her first law enforcement employment after graduating from Washington State University.
• Officer Jeffrey “JJ” Justman. JJ was hired in November 2022, after working six years for the Ocean Shores Police Department.
The final member of the team is Kendra Morrison, who joined the police department in November 2021 as a noncommissioned civilian. She serves as the police chief’s executive assistant.

Integrating With the Community
Before Chief Laliberte came to Eatonville, he spent 25 years with the Pierce County
Sheriff’s Department. Fifteen of those were on the homicide investigation team.

“I received a lot of experience and various promotions along the way, but the downside of the job was that my mental health took a major hit,” he says.

When the opportunity arrived, he jumped at the chance to work in Eatonville.

“I remind my former colleagues from Pierce County PD that it’s nice to drive through town and have people wave to me with all five fingers,” Jason says.

The police chief is happy to work in a smaller town.

“When I first arrived in Eatonville, I quickly adapted to the small-town feel and welcomed its slow-paced relief,” he says. “I was able to focus on officer development
and improve relations with the residents of the town.”

His first order of business was to establish outreach on social media.

“I created EPD’s first Facebook page and published features such as ‘Cop Joke Friday,’” he says.

Every Friday, Jason shares his comical delivery on Facebook.

“During Cop Joke Friday, I publish videos on Facebook of me telling dad jokes, tailoring them to fit into a law enforcement genre,” he says. “It was an immediate success and popular with the residents. In fact, if I miss a week, the residents immediately remind me.”

This year, Jason has already shared:
• When we were growing up, our dad told
us he was going to make a New Year’s
resolution and embrace all his mistakes.
And then he gave my brother and I a
big hug.
• If a child refuses to take a nap, are they
guilty of resisting arrest?
• Did you hear about the guy who
invented the knock-knock jokes? He
won the “no bell” prize!

Local real estate agent Emmy Lay has been a guest on the weekly Facebook feature.

“It’s something many in the community have come to love and look forward to,” Emmy says. “But more importantly, it’s been a way to put a face to the badge and remind us that our police department loves our town and its citizens.”

More Ways to Reach Out
The EPD staff looks forward to public events where they can meet and get to know the community.

“My staff and I are able to enjoy the experiences of participating in the Fourth of July events, the Christmas parade, National Night Out in our local park, Coffee with the Chief and the Pizza Wednesday Club, to name a few,” Jason says.

The regular Pizza Wednesday Club— featured in January’s OHOP Ruralite issue—has created an opportunity for local youth to interact socially with members of the Eatonville Police Department. Pizza Wednesday Club is a free event where community members, Eatonville School District and the police department partner to provide pizza to local students. Jason says this event strengthens the bond between the community, the students and EPD.

“I think it’s great for the kids to see me in a different setting other than witnessing me conduct police work,” he says.

Another positive outreach effort that he says has worked quite well is “Coffee with the Chief,” which is tailored to adults.

“I try to stay cognizant of what my community needs and desires,” Jason says. “I feel I am truly blessed to have a leading role in such an intimate and strong community.”