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Tumwater police and fire chiefs report steady hiring progress; academy graduate enters field training
Summary
Police Chief Jay Mason and Deputy Fire Chief Sean Kermit reported promotions and hires: an academy graduate is in field training, several officer openings are being processed, and fire staffing is progressing toward a staffed eighth paramedic unit with probationary paramedics coming off probation in December.
Tumwater’s police and fire leadership told the Civil Service Commission their departments are making steady staffing progress ahead of 2026 operations.
Police Chief Jay Mason said the department is backfilling positions created by Deputy Chief Quiles’ promotion, and will promote from the lieutenant list and fill at least one sergeant position from current eligibility lists. He noted one recent academy graduate, Britney Turner, is now in field training, and the department has multiple officer openings with at least one appointment made and others in background checks. Mason said the department is also hiring two police service specialists to support body-camera and performance documentation processes.
Deputy Fire Chief Sean Kermit said oral boards were completed for entry-level paramedics and lateral paramedic candidates and that a conditional offer is being processed for an entry-level paramedic to join the January Fire Academy. He added four probationary paramedics are expected to complete probation in December as the department moves toward staffing an eighth paramedic unit at the North End Fire Station.
Both chiefs presented these updates as operational progress; no new policy or budgetary action was requested at the meeting. The commission will next meet on December 11.
