7-29-2026 8:40am

City of Lake Forest Park Mayor French selects Commander Diego Zanella as Chief of Police

Chris Clasen Editor

LAKE FOREST PARK, Wash. — Following an internal selection process, Mayor French has selected Commander Diego Zanella as the city’s next Chief of Police, pending City Council confirmation at their August 13, 2026, regular meeting.

Mayor French stated, “The city is fortunate to have had the opportunity to interview two highly qualified internal candidates for the position of Chief of Police. I have full confidence in Commander Zanella as Chief and look forward to the continued success of this outstanding department under his leadership.”

I asked Chief Zanella a few questions:

What are you most excited about in your new role and what do you see as your biggest challenge?

I'm excited because this is an opportunity to serve a community and an organization that I genuinely care about. Since joining the Lake Forest Park Police Department seven years ago, I've come to appreciate the close relationships we have with our residents, businesses, schools, and city staff. Our department may be small, but we have dedicated employees who are committed to providing exceptional service. I'm also excited about helping shape the future of the department. My goal is to build on the strong foundation that already exists by investing in our employees, strengthening community trust, embracing innovation where it makes sense, and ensuring we continue to provide professional, compassionate, and effective police services.

With Flock (and equivalent) being in the news quite frequently recently with many cities turning the system off, do you anticipate the City ever implementing LPR's?

Systems like Flock Safety and similar technologies can be effective tools for preventing and solving crime by providing valuable investigative leads. However, I also understand the concerns many community members have regarding privacy and the potential impact these systems may have on individual rights. As Chief, I believe it is our responsibility to protect both public safety and the constitutional rights of our citizens. Finding the right balance is essential. Before implementing any such technology, I would want to have an open and transparent conversation with community members, City leadership, law enforcement partners, and other stakeholders to ensure any decision reflects our community's values and includes appropriate safeguards, accountability, and oversight.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I am truly humbled and deeply honored to serve as the Chief of the Lake Forest Park Police Department. I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has supported me throughout my law enforcement journey. First and foremost, I thank my wonderful and patient wife, who has stood by my side and supported my decisions ever since I moved from Italy. I am also grateful to my extended family, friends, colleagues, and mentors whose guidance, encouragement, and belief in me have helped shape the leader I am today. I am incredibly excited about the opportunity to lead this outstanding department. As Chief, I will lead with integrity, transparency, and accountability. I am committed to working alongside our dedicated employees, our elected officials, and our community to build on the strong foundation that already exists. Together, we will continue to provide exceptional public safety services while fostering trust, collaboration, and respect with everyone we serve. It is a privilege to serve this community, and I look forward to this new chapter with gratitude, humility, and great optimism for the future.

Chief Diego Zanella