By Kevin Hanson

The Courier-Herald

Jim Zoll says a combination of factors - both personal and professional - prompted him to become Enumclaw's new police chief.

On the purely professional side, the longtime officer aspired to head a department of his own. But the match had to be right. Clearly, he believes he's found that in Enumclaw.

Visiting town last week, while hunting for a home, Zoll said he has found "a great city and a great department."

Zoll will be sworn in Oct. 11. He replaces Bruce Weigel, who retired earlier this year; the post has been filled on an interim basis by Jake Evans.

Taking the Enumclaw job is quite a departure for Zoll, who was raised in Chula Vista, Calif., and has been with that city's police department since 1972. He started as a patrol officer and climbed through the ranks, becoming assistant chief in 1998. Heading Chula Vista's patrol division, he headed a staff of 200.

Asked why he has chosen to leave his home town, Zoll notes that San Diego is "a very nice area," but it no longer fit with his professional desires. "I wanted to be a police chief," he said, "and I wanted to be part of a community where I could feel connected. You can't do that with 200,000 people."

Chula Vista, he said, is the seventh-fastest growing city in the United States. It was a community of about 30,000 when Zoll was growing up, but has swelled to about 215,000.

Enumclaw was appealing, Zoll said, because he sensed "a strong sense of community" during an earlier visit. "There's a small-town pride that's very endearing to me," he added.

"Also, it's a beautiful area of the country," he said.

Zoll said people shouldn't expect him to make immediate changes to the department. "I'll get to know the community and the community will get to know me," he said. "I'll need to learn the culture, meet with the community and we'll go from there."

Kevin Hanson can be reached at khanson@courierherald.com.