Former Aberdeen Police officer Jay Staten has been hired as the new Aberdeen Deputy Police Chief, announced Police Chief Steve Shumate Monday afternoon.

“I am pleased to announce the hiring of Jay Staten as the next Deputy Chief of the Aberdeen Police Department,” said Shumate. “He is a highly respected and hardworking law enforcement officer.”

Staten started his law enforcement career in 1987 as a reserve deputy with the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office. He was hired as a full time police officer by the Long Beach Police Department in 1990.

Staten started working for the Montesano Police Department in 1994, said Shumate. In 1999, he came to the Aberdeen Police Department and spent the next 10 years with the department.

“For a five-year period, he was assigned as a detective with the Grays Harbor County Drug Task Force,” said Shumate. “He was recognized for his proactive work within this agency.”

In 2009, Staten returned to the Montesano Police Department as a lead patrol officer. He took over as second in command alongside Montesano Police Chief Brett Vance in 2011.

“Staten has over 15 years of experience dealing with major criminal investigations,” said Shumate. “During his time in the Drug Task Force, Staten handled various narcotics investigations to include street-level investigations, state and federal level cases, clandestine labs, controlled buys, and undercover operations across multiple states and countries. He was also a member of Aberdeen Police Department’s Critical Response Unit and served as a team leader until late last year.”

Staten was named Pacific County Officer of the Year in 1990 and The Daily World Police Officer of the Year in 2009. He was also the recipient for the Drug Enforcement Administration Regional Award for outstanding investigations 2009-2010.

Staten’s initial duties will be to oversee Support Services and Corrections. He will also help facilitate the department’s Pro-Act Team, focused on combating illegal drug activity throughout the city, said Shumate.