LCB forms administrative support team, highlights chemists, data analysts and SIU hires

Captain Josh Bolander told the executive management team that the LCB created a new administrative operations support team in April to centralize three technical units—chemist, examiner/data analysts, and training/evidence—and free field captains to return to operational duties. "This team was formed in April... it will allow for more focused support and attention to these highly technical units," Bolander said.

Bolander outlined the chemist unit (three staff led by Dr. Trumbull, with one vacancy) that reviews laboratory reports for contaminants and test failures, and noted the chemists participate in CLASP (an interagency laboratory standards program). He described an examiner team led by Brian McQuay that performs data forensics on traceability systems and supported 475 investigative reports last year, plus a training unit that manages evidence, firearms and defensive‑tactics instruction, field training officer programs and continuing certification requirements.

Deputy Chief Paul Navro provided staffing context, saying Washington had about 1.4 officers per 1,000 residents (2026 figure), below the national average (~2.3), and that LCB had roughly 120 commission staff with 15 vacancies. To increase investigation capacity, Chief Grant said the reorganization and new hiring allowed the agency to add two positions to a small Special Investigation Unit (SIU) to focus on complex diversion and financial investigations.

Bolander and others emphasized that the technical hires improve investigation quality, lab interpretation, traceability audits and recall support, and that the reorganization also aims to improve communication with licensing and other divisions so that administrative work does not pull captains away from the field.

The meeting closed with board praise for the presentations and encouragement to promote the division's work internally and externally.