Retired Lake Forest Park Police Chief Dennis Peterson called in to fix long-running problems at Snohomish County morgue

Former LFP Police Chief
Dennis Peterson 

From the Everett Herald

EVERETT — A management shakeup has begun at the Snohomish County morgue, where the administrators have called in a retired police chief to fix long-running problems. Dennis Peterson is starting work this week at the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office. 

The former Lake Forest Park police chief’s duties will include running day-to-day operations as well as exploring long-term changes. 

“His job is to look at every corner of the operation and tell me what we need to change — or to improve or repair, expand or contract,” Deputy County Executive Mark Ericks said. “The supervision of the investigators will be under Dennis Peterson. Everyone in the office will report to him.”

Two lawsuits from female death investigators alleged sexual harassment and workplace retaliation. Employee turnover has been high for years. A pathologist refused to perform an autopsy which stalled a Monroe police criminal investigation. 

In 2011, one of the medical investigators resigned amid allegations that he stole prescription pain medications seized during death investigations.

Peterson is expected to be there for several months.

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