State award for public health leadership honors BG chief

BATTLE GROUND – Battle Ground Police Chief Bob Richardson received the Washington State Public Health Association Public Health Leadership Award Oct. 13 at the association’s annual conference in Wenatchee.

Richardson has been a member of the Clark County Public Health Advisory Council since 2011. He has advocated for public health issues before the Clark County Board of Health. He has also been a leader in addressing methamphetamine use, youth violence and stable funding for public health.

The advisory council is focusing on health impacts from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Richardson helped the county obtain a grant from Vancouver-based Community Health Foundation for an upcoming pilot project on ACEs in Battle Ground.

“As an advocate of community-based law enforcement, Chief Richardson understands the strong connection between the work of public safety and public health,” said Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County health officer and public health director. “He is well respected in our community, and brings credibility and an understanding that public health is more than an organization; it is a community collaboration.”

Richardson has held the position of Battle Ground police chief since January 2011. Prior to coming to Battle Ground, he worked for the Irvine Police Department in California for 30 years as an officer, sergeant, lieutenant and then commander.

Richardson received his Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice administration from California State University, and received a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Southern California. He started his law enforcement career in 1973 when he was an explorer scout at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He later spent three years as a military police officer in the U.S. Army before moving on to Irvine.