Michael Luvera Named Burlington Chief of Police

Michael Luvera, who has served as chief of Central Washington University’s Department of Police and Parking Services since 2011, has been selected the new police chief of the Burlington, Washington Police Department.

Luvera begins his new position on July 3.

“It’s been an honor to work with Mike during the past six years,” said CWU President James L. Gaudino. “He’s a very capable and able administrator who has done a great job here. Burlington is very lucky to get him.”

Joseph Han, CWU’s vice president of operations, said Jason Berthon-Koch, currently a captain in the department, will become interim chief.

Luvera, who received his bachelor’s degree in law and justice from CWU, first joined the CWU Department of Police and Parking Services in 2008 as a lieutenant. Later, he was promoted to captain, placed in charge of police operations, student programs, emergency management, and parking and transportation programs.

Prior to that, he served nearly 17 years with the Ellensburg Police Department as a patrol officer, detective, patrol sergeant, and detective sergeant.

In 2014, Luvera was awarded the Administrator of the Year award by the Western Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators and in 2016, CWU’s Department Police and Parking Services was named Department of the Year by the same organization.

Last year, two officers in the department, Berthon-Koch and Officer Todd Ames, received national recognition for their involvement with the Rape Aggression Defense Systems of Self Defense (R.A.D.).

Media contact: Richard Moreno, director of content development, 509-963-2714, Richard.Moreno@cwu.edu.