After six years with the Battle Ground Police Department, Chief Mike Fort announced Thursday he will be retiring at the end of the year. Fort has served as chief for four years. His retirement will be effective January 2024.
Fort joined the Battle Ground agency as a lieutenant in 2018. In February 2020, he assumed command of the department. While serving as chief, Fort increased service to Battle Ground schools through the school resource officer program, developed a traffic patrol unit, doubled the capacity of the detectives unit and implemented a drone program.
Battle Ground has hired a consultant to assist with and manage the recruitment process to select a new police chief. The first round of application reviews has been scheduled for Oct. 29.
