By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip Tribes
“It’s time to come home,” Tribal Chairwoman Teri Gobin told then King County Sheriff, Shawn Ledford, at a recent event. Fast forward to today, and the Tulalip people welcomed Ledford to the Tulalip Tribal Police Department. On Tuesday, September 3, Ledford was sworn in as Chief of Police. Ledford, a Tulalip tribal member, is stepping into the role previously held by Acting Chief Christopher Gobin.
Every member of the Board warmly welcomed Chief Ledford back to the community. Chief Ledford reflected on his decision to return: “When Chairwoman Gobin hugged me and said it’s time to come home, I felt something. I knew it was time. I always thought about it in the back of my mind. The timing was right, and hearing those words from someone I respect helped me decide.”
With 35 years of experience, Chief Ledford brings a wealth of law enforcement knowledge to his new role. He began his career as a patrol deputy at the Federal Way Precinct and quickly advanced through the ranks due to his extensive skills. His roles included hostage negotiator, detective in the Special Assault Unit, and then, Chief of Police for the City of Newcastle.
He furthered his career as Captain at the Southwest Precinct in Burien and then as Operations Chief at the North Precinct in Kenmore. In 2012, he was appointed Police Chief in Shoreline, where he served for a decade before being promoted to Division Chief with the King County sheriff’s office.
Marlin Fryberg, Tulalip Board of Director, emphasized the significance of bringing Shawn Ledford back to the community. Reflecting on the guidance from previous leaders, Fryberg shared, “Those leaders who were sitting on the Board then and are now gone, instructed me to watch for Shawn as he grew in law enforcement. They said to keep an eye on that young man, that tribal member of ours, because one day he will come home and help this community.”
Fryberg expressed his pride and optimism for the future, stating, “Ledford is home, and this is a good setting for all of us. When we say coming back home, you are home. You are one of us.”
When asked what it means to return to the Tulalip community and serve, Chief Ledford responded, “It’s a great honor and challenge. I want to ensure I am doing right for our community—protecting and serving it passionately. Our focus will be keeping drugs and gang violence off the reservation.”
As Chief Ledford steps into this pivotal role, the road ahead will undoubtedly present its challenges. However, with his extensive background and deep family ties to the community, there is cautious optimism that his leadership will guide the Tulalip Tribal Police Department through these complexities, focusing on the safety and well-being of the Tulalip people.