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Centralia swears in two officers, recognizes multiple staff and volunteers
Summary
At its May 13 meeting Centralia’s police chief swore in two new officers and presented multiple commendations and years-of-service recognitions; staff and volunteers were awarded for DUI enforcement, detective work on a 2024 robbery, and other responses.
Chief Andy Caldwell introduced two newly hired officers and administered the oath of office before recognizing many department members and volunteers for recent work.
Officers Daniel Pantone and Ramos were introduced as new academy graduates; Pantone previously worked as a corrections deputy and in human resources, and Ramos had security experience with Providence Centralia Hospital and a record of community support for his hiring (SEG 548–588). Both officers recited the law enforcement code of ethics as part of the swearing-in.
The chief presented awards and certificates of commendation recognizing: Officer Daniel Cox for 35 DUI arrests in 2024; Detective Mitch King and his team for resolving an armed robbery and kidnapping case tied to a December 2024 incident; Sergeant Allen Hitchcock for work that recovered roughly $15,000 from an elder fraud case; Detective Timothy O’Dell for reinvestigating a 1977 murder case (the subject reportedly died in custody, ending a planned retrial); and a group award recognizing quick response to a June 30, 2024 downtown shooting (resulting in an arrest and later guilty plea and prison sentence). Non‑sworn employees Naomi Hirsch and Karen received awards for records and volunteer coordination work (SEG 876–1160, SEG 947–1001, SEG 1064–1110, SEG 1140–1160, SEG 1196–1246).
Council members publicly thanked officers and volunteers for service and sacrifice. Mayor and council extended appreciation and welcomed the new officers to the department (SEG 749–757, SEG 751–759).
What’s next: Photographs and certificates were taken at the meeting; no policy or budgetary action was taken as part of the recognitions.
