Tumwater commission OKs eligibility lists, elects new chair and hears staffing updates

The Tumwater Civil Service Commission approved several personnel eligibility‑list actions, elected a new commission chair and received staffing updates from police and fire leaders at its Jan. 9 meeting.

Commissioners voted by voice to adopt minutes, approve additions and removals on multiple eligibility lists and to elect Commissioner Blake Chard as commission chair after Chair Simon Tee announced his retirement. The panel also heard staffing updates: the Fire Department reported 10 new firefighter/paramedics have joined the department and begun advanced life‑support training; the Police Department reported a lateral hire and two pending background investigations.

On eligibility lists, the commission approved eight additions to the January 2025 entry‑level police officer list and noted the removal of one candidate, Gary Kennedy, because he was hired. The panel approved removals from the lateral paramedic‑firefighter list — five candidates were removed because they were hired; two candidates failed the chief’s interview. The commission also approved removals from the paramedic firefighter list for three names that had expired (12‑month expiration) with no interest.

Commissioner Pat Schneider nominated Commissioner Blake Chard for commission chair. The nomination was seconded and approved by voice vote; Chard was congratulated and will serve as chair going forward.

Fire leadership told the commission that 10 new firefighter paramedics are on board and that six of those will continue in firefighter training while five attend the fire academy; the advanced life‑support academy began the week of the meeting. Department staff said these hires help staff the county’s eighth medic unit.

The Police Department update noted that one hire, a lateral candidate named Casey Stevenhagen, is in the onboarding process but cannot begin field training until body armor and equipment arrive. A recruit named Yari Kennedy is scheduled to start the academy in late January, a shorter lead time than in previous months, police staff said.

The commission also approved the minutes for the Dec. 12, 2024 meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of Dec. 12, 2024 minutes — motion passed by voice vote (yes: Simon Tee, Pat Schneider, Blake Chard). - Entry‑level police officer eligibility list (8 additions, 1 removal for hiring) — motion passed by voice vote (yes: 3). - Lateral paramedic firefighter removals (5 removed for hiring; 2 failed interview) — motion passed by voice vote (yes: 3). - Paramedic firefighter list removals for expired names (3 expired) — motion passed by voice vote (yes: 3). - Election of Blake Chard as commission chair (nomination and second; voice vote) — approved.

No roll‑call tallies were recorded in the transcript; commissioners used voice votes. The commission recorded that staffing and budget items referenced in discussion are supported by the city’s 2025 budget, per staff comments.