Troy Smithmeyer has been selected as the Burien Police Department’s next captain.

Captain Jessica Sullivan retired from the King County Sheriff’s Office in February. Smithmeyer has been serving as acting captain since March.

“Smithmeyer’s skill set and experience will allow us to build on our successes fighting crime, building trust, and supporting our employees in their career development,” said Theodore “Ted” Boe, Burien Police Department Chief.

Smithmeyer was hired by the King County Sheriff’s Office in 2000 and is now in his twentieth year of police service. He has worked as a patrol officer and trained new deputies. During his patrol time, he spent six years as a Master Police Officer in Burien. After Burien, he moved into several specialty and leadership positions, including a bicycle officer on the downtown Bicycle Emphasis and Enforcement Squad, a sergeant on the Street Crimes Unit and a sergeant on the Joint Transit Anti-Terrorism Team. Most recently, he was the administrative sergeant for the SeaTac Police Department. 

Prior to his start in law enforcement, Captain Smithmeyer served for four years in the U.S. Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton and Fort Lewis. He then worked in the auto industry as a service advisor, developing exceptional communication and problem solving skills. He earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from California Coast University.