Police Dept Hires

Matthew McCabe, Police Officer

“Joining the Bothell Police Department was the best decision. I feel like I’ve finally landed with a group that truly trusts and supports one another,” says Matthew McCabe, Bothell Police Department’s new officer hired under the voter-approved Safe and Secure levy.

McCabe notes the warm reception he has received as an officer here and how meaningful it is for the community to support something like the Safe andMcCabe Headshot Secure levy. “Our team is incredible and that says a lot about the greater Bothell community. It is clear residents want an active partnership with their police department and understand we are here to help,” reflects McCabe.

In addition to putting the community first, McCabe’s approach to policework is also guided by his faith and inspired by his late grandfather’s strong moral compass. “I am reminded that there is no job I could have that would put me above others. Remembering this helps me understand my place and what I am called to do,” explains McCabe.

McCabe joins the BPD from the University of Washington Police Department, where he worked as a Police Officer since 2015. Before becoming an officer, he spent five years as a Security Officer with the Seattle University Department of Public Safety. McCabe is originally from Minnesota where he received a B.A. in Criminology from the University of Minnesota Duluth and a certificate in Law Enforcement Skills from the Fund Du Lac Tribal and Community College.

Welcome, Officer McCabe! We are happy to have you join the Bothell community and BPD!

Sara Stein, Crime Analyst

“I never wanted to be on the front lines but still wanted to help people. Supporting our officers with actionable crime intelligence so they can do their jobs quickly and effectively is the best way I’ve found I can serve my community,” shares Sara Stein, the Police Department’s new Crime Analyst, hired with funds from a voter-approved levy.

Civilian Crime Analysts are a relatively new and exciting addition to law enforcement agencies in the Puget SoundSara Stein Headshot region, explains Bothell Police Chief Seuberlich, “Stein will be a key player in moving us towards data-driven patrol response. Her analysis will help us find the crime ‘hot spots’ so we can better utilize our resources and send officers to the right areas at the right times.”

Her role involves, but is not limited to, suspect and victim identification, analysis of crime reports to detect criminal networks, and collaboration with regional partners. “Criminals are not bound by city or county lines. I work with our neighboring law enforcement partners to find the frequent flyers and make sure we are all one step ahead,” explains Stein. 

Stein joins the Police Department after five years with the FBI. Over this time her duties entailed providing operational support and intelligence analysis to several teams including the Violent Crimes Against Children and Safe Streets task forces, as well as a national security squad, to name a few. A move back to Bothell is far from unfamiliar, as she is a Bothell High School graduate and received her Associate degree from Cascadia College. She then completed her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Washington Seattle and a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Seattle University. “Bothell was great a place to grow up and is now turning out to be a great place to build a career,” says Stein.

When she’s not digging into databases, you can find Stein rehearsing with the Con Brio Women’s Choir or training for a half-marathon. Welcome back to Bothell and welcome to the Police Department, Sara Stein! Thank you, voters!


Camilo Alonzo Lopez, Police Officer

“I am still impressed the Bothell community saw a need for more officers and firefighters and solved the problem proactively by passing the Safe and Secure levy,” says Camilo Alonzo Lopez, one of Bothell Police Department’s new oCamilo Lopez headshotfficers hired with funds from the voter-approved levy. “It shows the community supports this department. Not many jurisdictions can say that,” says Lopez.

Lopez was looking for work in the area to move closer to family when he ran across the Bothell Police Department on social media. “What stood out was how involved the leadership is in the community. I thought, ‘wow, this department must really care about Bothell’,” remembers Lopez, “Now that I’m here I can say that is absolutely true - it’s exactly what I was looking for in a community and police department.”

Lopez joins the Bothell Police Department from New Jersey where he spent the last two years as a police officer for his alma mater, Rutgers University. “As a student, I never thought about law enforcement as a career until a police officer took the time to talk with me about the job,” recalls Lopez, “He caught me at the right time when I was looking at career options and that small interaction was enough to set my life on this course.” Lopez changed his major to Criminal Justice and worked as a security guard while finishing his studies.

After a few years in the field, Lopez says his favorite aspect of law enforcement is that it’s a never-ending learning experience. “I am the kind of person who likes to be in a position where I can help when help is needed,” he says, “Since it’s something new every day, I’m always learning and trying to become a better officer.”

Sukhi Kaur, Police Officer

“This levy shows the community’s support and faith in us. They believe in us enough to pay more for more service – that’s huge. It makes me happy to be able to give back and protect them,” says Sukhi Kaur, the first Bothell police officer hired using funds from the voter-approved levy.

Sukhi Headshot for web“I’m most proud of the moment when I got hired into the Bothell PD,” recalls Kaur, “I was sitting in the Chief’s office and we talked for almost an hour about who I am, where I come from, what my values are. It was encouraging for someone so experienced and in a position of authority to focus on who I am as a person and tell me they believe in me. I feel lucky to be part of this department.”

Kaur was born in Punjab, India and moved to the U.S. when she was eight years old. Despite being encouraged to pursue the medical profession, she was drawn to law enforcement after meeting the City of Kent Police Chief and volunteering at the police department. “I was curious about this field but because my parents had such a different understanding of law enforcement they couldn’t explain the U.S. system to me. I chose to study Criminal Justice and Psychology at the University of Washington to learn the system so I could be a good officer.”

Since becoming a police officer, Kaur has seen her family’s perception of law enforcement change. “Now, they have a family member out in the field and can put themselves in an officer’s shoes,” she says, “Laws and policies don’t exist the same way in India as they do here. There is a big gap in education about what law enforcement is and I hope to change that.”


Michael Garcia, Police Officer

When Michael Garcia started putting feelers out for a new job, Bothell PD rose to the top of the list. “I did a tour and a ride along with a Bothell officer and saw how tight knit and community-oriented the department was," says Garcia. "For this line of work, community support and a positive chain of command and peer officers is everything.”Michael Garcia 4th pic for web

Garcia is the second hire funded by a voter-approved public safety levy.  He is native to the area but comes to Bothell PD after a year in law enforcement with the Auburn Police Department and 9 years as a Corrections Officer at the King County Jail.

“Being a corrections officer taught me to be a good communicator. Working in a jail is unlike anything else – you’re in the same environment with the same people every single day. Strong communication was the only way to talk things out or down," he says. "For many police officers, talking to people in crisis is new. After working in the jail for 9 years, it’s not startling anymore. It happened every day.”

Despite previous experience in law enforcement, Garcia is beginning 12 weeks of field training led by Bothell Officer Jeremy Wilson. “The most nerve-wracking part is making sure I mesh well with everyone. This is a very close department.”