Former Bonney Lake Police Chief and longtime resident Bryan Jeter has been named the next chief of the Puyallup Police Department, effective May 30.

Jeter is presently the deputy chief in Puyallup and will take over for retiring Chief Jim Collyer.

Jeter, 46, served as chief of the Bonney Lake department for four years, resigning in 2004 to take a position as commander of patrol forces in the Puyallup department.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to lead the Puyallup PD and thankful for the experience that I got in Bonney Lake,” Jeter wrote in an email shortly after the announcement. “It was a fairly easy transition going from one great community and police department to another, thanks to that experience.”

Jeter is a graduate of White River High School and still lives in Bonney Lake with his wife and two children.

According to an email sent to city employees by Puyallup City Administrator Ralph Dannenberg, Jeter was highly recommended to him by many local police chiefs, as well as the executive director of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.

“Each person I spoke with commented on Bryan’s character, integrity and knowledge of the area, and also of the regional and state-wide respect he has earned,” he wrote.

Additionally, Dannenberg said conversations with numerous members of the department indicated Jeter would have their support as chief because he is respected as both fair and firm, recognizes good work, communicates with staff and treats everyone with respect, according to the email.

“I can’t imagine that Puyallup could bring a person of greater integrity to this very important position than Bryan,” Dannenberg wrote.