Todd’s Take: My Friend, Don Treat — Yakima’s Next Police Chief?

When one lives in one town long enough, as I have here in Yakima, eventually you reach an age where your childhood chums are suddenly the business owners, leaders and pillars of the community.

Don Treat, a guy I have known since I met his younger brother, Chris, in first grade at Apple Valley Elementary in 1977, is venturing to become the latest on that list for me. A graduate of West Valley High School, like me, Don has thrown his hat into the ring to become Yakima's chief of police.

It's really cool to see someone I have known for most of my life, whose folks -- Dennis and Diane -- were like an "extra" set of parents to me, achieve all he has in his life and still want to come back to Yakima.

Last Friday a public forum was held at the Yakima Visitors and Convention Center where all five candidates had the opportunity to introduce themselves and explain why they were seeking the position.

The Yakima Herald-Republic interviewed all five applicants. Here are Don's responses to the Herald's questions. I hope you'll agree with me that he would be great for the city of Yakima in that capacity!