City Manager Lyman Howard introduced new Sammamish Police Chief Michelle Bennett to the City Council Tuesday evening at City Hall.

On hand was King County Sheriff John Urquhart, as well as a multitude of police colleagues from the neighboring precincts of Seattle, Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland and Redmond.

“You had four really, really good applicants, captains within the Sheriff’s Office that all wanted to come to the city of Sammamish,” Urquhart told council members. “But quite frankly, you picked the best one.”

Bennett boasts 26 years with the Sheriff’s Office. She was named police chief as a sergeant in Maple Valley in 2004, then was promoted to captain in 2008. Most recently, she worked in an administrative role at the Sheriff’s Office in downtown Seattle.

“I’m just very thankful to be here,” she told the council. “I really appreciate your support and the city manager and assistant city manager in helping me get here. I really look forward to working with all of you.”