There’s a new undersheriff in Clark County.
John Chapman, previously the chief criminal deputy at the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, will take over for Mike Cooke, Sheriff Chuck Atkins said. Cooke is retiring effective Feb. 1.
Chapman joined the sheriff’s office’s leadership when Atkins became sheriff in December 2014, overseeing enforcement operations. He previously worked for the Vancouver Police Department since 1994, most recently as a lieutenant.
“The undersheriff position is like a COO (chief operating officer) in other organizations and critical to moving the sheriff’s mission and vision forward,” Atkins wrote in an email. “I have full faith in John Chapman’s ability to do just that.”
Cooke has been on leave since December, during which Chapman has stepped in on an interim basis. Officials with the sheriff’s office said that Cooke’s leave is nondisciplinary.
