Meet Chief Tank
“Throughout my law enforcement career, I’ve focused on reducing and preventing crime through a proactive community-focused approach and breaking the cycle of incarceration and recidivism.”
— Chief Tank
Chief Donnell “Tank” Tanksley serves as the Blaine Chief of Police. As the only candidate who has led a Law Enforcement agency, he brings a wide breadth of experience and a fresh perspective to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s office. Tank has spent 30 years in law enforcement, including 21 years as a police officer in St. Louis, Missouri, working his way up the ranks to Lieutenant. He worked as the Assistant Chief of Police at WWU and the Chief of Police at Portland State University.
His formal education is in management: a Bachelor of Management from National Louis University in Chicago, a Master of Management from Fontbonne University in St. Louis, and four Associates degrees.
Public service is his passion. He is retired from the US Military and today serves on community boards for the Mount Baker Foundation, the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center, the Bellingham-Whatcom Commission on Domestic Violence, the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force, the Emergency Management Council, and is a proud lifetime member of the American Legion.
A Note from Chief Tank
“Over the past 36 years, I have served my country and communities with dedication and strong character.
Growing up in the St. Louis area, I was exposed to community members from all walks of life. At the age of 19, while living in Ferguson, Missouri, I encountered a group of unjust police officers that spiked my interest in law enforcement. That encounter inspired me to look for a “right” and “just” way to serve all people as a police officer with respect, compassion, humility, and dignity. A short time later, I joined the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and worked to bring change at the ground level.
After 21 years with the St. Louis force and retiring as a Commander in 2014, I moved to the Pacific Northwest to take on the role of Assistant Chief of Police at Western Washington University. I developed a great appreciation for this community and its lifestyle. Now, as the Chief of Police for the city of Blaine, my appreciation for our community and county is unwavering.
I’ve also served my country in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force on active duty and in the Air National Guard, retiring after 22 years as a first sergeant. While on duty in such places as Japan, Iceland, and Bahrain, I developed a deep appreciation for different cultures and communities.
Throughout my law enforcement career, I have focused on reducing and preventing crime through a proactive community-focused approach and breaking the cycle of incarceration and recidivism. To that end, as a caring community, we must address homelessness and the need for mental health care. Homelessness and mental health issues are not crimes and should not be treated as such. We cannot arrest our way out of the situation. These are very complex issues. We should have a balance of accountability, treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
I believe it is essential for law enforcement, medical providers, clinicians, emergency medical services, behavioral health professionals, elected officials, and others to work together to improve public safety and community health for everyone in Whatcom County. I would be honored to serve all the people in Whatcom County as your Whatcom County Sheriff, who will be fair, transparent, equitable, and certainly approachable.”
— Chief Donnell “Tank” Tanksley
I’m proud that all campaign staff and volunteers are asked to abide by a strong Code of Conduct.