April 06, 2005
Olympia – Chief
Rick Phillips, director of the state Liquor Control Board’s
Enforcement and Education Division since January 2000, has accepted a
position with the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE).
PIRE has received
$1.5 million from Congress to create a National Center for Alcohol Law
Enforcement (NCALE). Once the NCALE is established, PIRE will seek
additional funds to allow the center to fund programs that encourage
local law enforcement agencies to place greater emphasis on alcohol
law enforcement.
Phillips will be one of four regional directors. As Western Region
Director, he will be responsible for managing NCALE activities and
operations in Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Hawaii, Montana,
Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Phillips will leave the Liquor
Control Board (LCB) at the end of April and begin his new duties in
May, working out of an office in his home.
“I will still be championing liquor law enforcement in my new job,”
said Phillips, who joined the Liquor Control Board following a 28-year
career with the Washington State Patrol (WSP). “I just couldn’t pass
up the opportunity to be in on the ground floor of creating the
National Center for Alcohol Law Enforcement.”
“We’ve made great progress with Rick as our chief,” said Rick Garza,
director of the LCB’s Policy, Legislative and Media Relations Division
and deputy administrative director. “We wish him the best in his new
job with PIRE.”
Phillips was a captain and district commander, responsible for WSP
operations in Southwest Washington, before joining the Liquor Control
Board where he led implementation of Community Oriented Liquor and
Tobacco Enforcement (COLTE) — the Board’s version of community
policing.
“I think Rick is taking on a new job
that is a perfect fit for him in an area that he has knowledge and
passion, liquor law enforcement,” said Pat Kohler, LCB administrative
director. “Rick has served as a national leader in the alcohol law
enforcement and education profession. I think Rick worked hard to
bring community oriented policing and
professionalism to the division and the
division was recognized for this by NLLEA.”
The National Liquor Law Enforcement
Association named LCB’s Enforcement and Education Division “2001
Liquor Enforcement Agency of the Year,” and Phillips currently serves
as NLLEA president. |
