Meet Our People - Matt Murphy

Matt Murphy, Liquor Enforcement Officer

From the busy summers in popular Lake Chelan to the tiny town of Ronald, the constant activity of Ellensburg and its university, and the snowy resorts in the Cascade Mountains, Wenatchee Liquor Enforcement Officer Matt Murphy sees a little bit of everything in his enforcement area.

When Murphy joined the WSLCB in 2006, he worked at the Seattle enforcement office for a year before taking the Wenatchee position. While Murphy enjoyed the excitement and variety of situations in South Seattle, he says it’s great to be able to build one-on-one relationships with the 300 businesses that hold liquor licenses in his area.

Conducting regular compliance checks and compliant investigations, teaching identification and over service classes, and helping businesses complete the liquor licensing process are the major elements of Murphy’s workweek.

“These activities give our licensees a chance to learn about liquor laws and regulations,” he said. “My goal is to have a good working relationship with them. I want them to know that I’m their resource when they need something. And if there is a problem, I want them to come to me for help.”

He also takes part in undercover operations across the state, where officers look for public safety violations such as overservice, disorderly conduct and minors being served.

“When someone asks what I do for a living, they automatically think we do compliance checks all day every day,” he said. “It’s kinda funny. I explain all the other great public safety work we do here, such as undercover operations. I also like telling people about the administrative support officers receive. I’m proud of that. Anything you need, they’re willing to help us in some way.”