Woodburn Police Chief Marty Pilcher to depart for Richland, Washington

The city of Woodburn’s police chief seat will soon be vacant.

That’s because Chief Marty Pilcher is leaving his local position to take the helm of the police department in Richland, Washington.

Pilcher is set to serve as the new police chief of the Richland Police Department pending his passing of the background investigation, according to the city of Richland.

Pilcher’s departure date from the Woodburn Police Department has not yet been determined.

The city of Woodburn plans to appoint Deputy Chief Jason Millican as interim police chief, according to a release from the city. At the same time, the department will internally evaluate its needs before appointing a permanent police chief.

Richland, a city with a population more than double the size of Woodburn, has been without a permanent police chief since Jan. 1, 2024, when former Richland Police Chief Brigit Clary retired.

Pilcher was announced as Richland’s police chief on Sept. 11 in a statement by the city manager.

“I am honored and excited to be selected to serve as the Chief of Police for Richland,” Pilcher said in the release. “My goal is to work collaboratively with the community, the department, and other city agencies to ensure that Richland remains a safe and welcoming place for everyone. I look forward to meeting with residents and working together to address our community’s needs.”

Pilcher has been the police chief in Woodburn since 2022 and is the third chief to represent the city in the past 10 years.

“Chief Pilcher has served Woodburn with integrity and distinction,” said City Administrator Scott Derickson. “Although losing such an accomplished professional like Marty is difficult, we are proud of his advancement in Richland. Chief Pilcher has maintained the leadership and accountability our community has come to appreciate from our police department.”