Tumwater Civil Service Commission approves multiple eligibility lists, extends firefighter probation and OKs job reclassification

The Tumwater Civil Service Commission met at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 13 and approved multiple personnel actions, including extensions and new eligibility lists for police and fire positions, a probationary extension for a firefighter injured during training, and a reclassification of a department administrative position.

The commission’s approvals keep several hiring lists active and give department managers flexibility to fill openings without re-testing immediately. Commissioners also voted to extend the probationary period for firefighter Christian Metzler to and after his shift on Sept. 19, 2025, after Metzler missed extended time while recovering from an injury sustained during academy training.

Commissioners said maintaining current eligibility lists reduces administrative burden and preserves qualified candidates should openings arise. “We don’t anticipate any openings in this position, but certainly would like to have the list available if we did,” said Sean Crimmins, deputy chief, fire department, discussing the request to extend the battalion chief list. Brian Hurley, fire chief, explained the overlap between fire lieutenant and paramedic lieutenant lists: candidates first qualify through the fire lieutenant testing process and then may take an additional oral board to be considered for paramedic lieutenant roles.

On formal votes, the commission approved: the minutes of the Jan. 9 meeting; an update and continuation of the police officer entry-level eligibility list for February 2025 (25 candidates, with six recent additions); a new fire lieutenant entry-level list (nine candidates, valid through Feb. 2026); a paramedic lieutenant list (three candidates); a paramedic firefighter continuous listing (exam Dec. 2024; candidates restored to the list through Dec. 2025 after an administrative removal); extension of the battalion chief eligibility list to Feb. 2026; and the recommendation to extend the probationary period for firefighter Christian Metzler through Sept. 19, 2025. The commission also approved reclassification of the fire department’s administrative assistant position to an executive assistant and adopted a firefighter lieutenant testing plan to fill an anticipated training lieutenant vacancy created by the retirement of Training Lieutenant John Kaler.

The commission received an informational briefing from staff about an industrywide testing change: Public Safety Testing is transitioning to the Guardian Selection Inventory (GSI) for officer selection effective March 1, 2025. Staff described the GSI as “designed to evaluate a broader range of essential traits for success in modern public safety roles” and said Tumwater will continue to use its existing eligibility list until it is exhausted; both old and new test results may run concurrently while the old list remains valid.

In department updates, police leaders said Chief Wicks has announced his retirement effective at the end of February; the department also held a sergeants’ assessment center and reported five new officers are in the hiring pipeline. Fire department leaders said a recent cohort of hires is progressing through Advanced Life Support training and the South Sound Recruit Academy; five lateral hires will join minimum staffing shortly and five others will return after the 16-week academy in June.

The commission scheduled its next meeting for March 13. With no further business, Chairman Blake Chard adjourned the meeting.