The Centralia Police Department, the Chehalis Police Department, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) and the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday announced their intention to form a new “multi-agency proactive policing team,” according to a joint statement.
The team will include officers and deputies from the three law enforcement agencies. The prosecutor’s office will provide legal and case support.
According to the statement, the agencies plan for a “tentative launch” in late 2026.
The announcement comes after the quiet disbandment of the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET), once composed of detectives and agents from Centralia, Chehalis, the Washington state Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Former JNET detective Andrew Huerta of the Centralia Police Department confirmed the rumors of dissolution during a Centralia City Council meeting in May. That came after the firing of former JNET leader Sgt. Tracy Murphy.
JNET was first established in 2015 as part of an agreement between the Centralia Police Department, the Chehalis Police Department and the LCSO.
The prosecutor’s office also once played an active role in the unit’s operations. Over time, agents from the DEA, DOC and Homeland Security Investigations were incorporated into the team.
In July 2020, Lewis County Sheriff Rob Snaza pulled his department from JNET, citing a staff shortage. At the time of its recent disbandment, the Chehalis Police Department did not have a detective on the team.
Now, the county’s major law enforcement bodies are again teaming up, this time without agents from the state and federal level.
“This collaborative initiative represents an opportunity for regional cooperation to protect the quality of life in our communities,” the joint statement said.
Similar to JNET, but perhaps broader in scope, the new unit will conduct “proactive, intelligence-driven enforcement” of crimes such as illegal drug activity, vehicle thefts, organized retail theft, human trafficking and violent offenses.
“This framework will serve as the foundation for a successful regional unit and focus on strong community partnerships,” the statement said. “By working together, we aim to measurably reduce crime, disrupt repeat offenders, and build greater public trust through transparent and community-oriented practices.”
According to the statement, the agencies will incorporate “hot spots policing, problem-oriented approaches and interagency information sharing” under a shared governance model.
Centralia Police Department Commander Dave Clary, Chehalis Police Department Deputy Chief Matt McKnight and LCSO Special Services Chief Gabriel Frase are now working to complete the mission, vision, policies and “implementation details,” according to the statement.
The collaborative approach between the departments and the sheriff’s office precedes JNET. Prior to JNET’s formation, members of the three agencies worked together as part of the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET).
According to previous Chronicle reporting, UNET was also assisted by the Washington State Patrol and the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office.
The team, at one time known as the Tri-Agency Narcotics Network, formed in 1988 and disbanded in 2007.
