La Grande Police Department Swears In Shaun Gridley as Newest Lieutenant

The La Grande Police Department held a formal swearing-in ceremony around March 9-10, marking Shaun Gridley as its newest lieutenant in what the department has framed as part of a short run of internal promotions and staffing updates.

Gridley's promotion adds a new lieutenant to LGPD's command structure at a moment when the department appears to be actively reshaping its roster. A Facebook post referencing the Elkhorn Media Group report on the ceremony noted that Richard Smith was also sworn in the previous week, suggesting the Gridley ceremony is not an isolated event but rather one step in a broader series of personnel changes unfolding within the department.

No further details about the specific venue, the officer who administered the oath, or attendees at the ceremony were immediately available. LGPD has not publicly released background information on Gridley's prior rank, years of service, or the responsibilities he will carry as lieutenant.

The Richard Smith swearing-in, referenced only briefly in the social media post, also lacks confirmation on rank or exact date beyond the notation that it occurred last week relative to Gridley's ceremony.

For a department serving a city of La Grande's size, back-to-back swearing-in ceremonies signal meaningful movement within the command structure. Whether additional promotions are planned as part of the same staffing cycle has not been confirmed by LGPD.