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Tumwater Civil Service Commission approves candidate lists, reclassification and deputy chief exam plan
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Summary
The commission approved police and firefighter entry-level eligibility lists, reclassified a fire administrative post to parity with the police administrative manager, approved a deputy police chief exam plan, and extended an acting deputy police chief appointment through Sept. 2, 2026.
The Tumwater Civil Service Commission on April 2026 approved a set of personnel and classification actions affecting the city’s police and fire departments, including two entry-level eligibility lists, a reclassification of a fire administrative role, a deputy police chief exam plan and an extension of an acting deputy police chief appointment.
Michelle Southern, the commission’s secretary examiner, presented the police officer entry-level eligibility list for April 2026 and asked that Taurean Whetstone be moved from the removed list to the added list. Southern said the list contained 17 candidates, with 10 newly added. She described routine removals for candidates who have advanced to background investigation, those who failed the chief’s interview and one who withdrew. Commissioner Ed Schneider asked why candidates in background check are removed from the public list; Southern and Acting Police Chief Carlos Keelas explained that once a candidate advances to a conditional offer and background investigation they are removed from the eligibility list because they are either hired after clearance or disqualified during the background process.
The commission voted to approve the police officer entry-level list after a motion by Chair Blake Chart and a second by Commissioner Ed Schneider.
Southern also presented an entry-level firefighter eligibility list of 26 candidates and sought approval to add all names to the April list. Commissioner Ed Schneider moved approval; the commission approved the firefighter list.
The commission spent its most substantive discussion on a proposed reclassification of a fire department executive assistant position to the police fire administrative manager classification. Southern said a review conducted while recruiting for a police administrative manager showed a misalignment: the fire executive assistant is performing duties that include budget oversight, preparing and administering the department operating budget, coordinating expenditures, managing purchasing contracts and vendor relationships, supervising an employee, and coordinating with human resources, payroll and finance. "We found that discrepancy upon posting for a new police administrative manager — the inequity in the way those positions were classified," Southern said. Fire Chief Brian Hurley said the department now has about 62 full-time equivalent employees and that current responsibilities — handling grants, emergency management work and program oversight, and conducting studies such as possible fire impact fees — exceed a traditional executive assistant scope. Hurley added that the city administrator has indicated willingness to accommodate any necessary budget amendment to cover compensation changes.
Chair Blake Chart moved to approve the reclassification to police fire administrative manager for the fire department position; Commissioner Ed Schneider seconded the motion and the commission approved it.
Southern then presented a deputy police chief exam plan and recruitment approach. The plan sets minimum qualifications (high school diploma or GED; five years of experience with a law enforcement agency with at least three years at lieutenant or equivalent; graduation from a Washington State law enforcement academy) and lists preferred qualifications such as related college education and documented experience implementing community policing. The commission was told the department would post internally first, review candidates via HR and the police chief, use an oral board composed of Tumwater Police Department staff (including a first-line supervisor and an administrative staff member), require a 70% minimum score to pass, and rank passing candidates on an eligibility list with the top seven eligible for a chief’s interview. Commissioner Ed Schneider moved approval; the commission approved the exam plan.
Southern requested extension of the acting deputy police chief appointment, noting the incumbent has served as acting deputy since Jan. 2 and civil service regulation allows a four-month acting period. The department asked to extend the appointment through Sept. 2, 2026 to allow the recruitment process to proceed amid operational demands. Commissioner Schneider clarified the incumbent’s name as Kenneth Driver. Chair Chart moved to extend the appointment to September 2026; the motion carried.
In department updates, Hurley said one paramedic candidate is in the fire academy and the city council has approved architectural and engineering work to remodel Station 2. Acting Police Chief Carlos Keelas reported one recruit close to graduating from the police academy, two new hires awaiting academy dates, one candidate near final clearance and five current vacancies; Keelas said a recruiting video will be posted on the Tumwater Police Department website and social channels.
The commission set its next meeting for May 14 and adjourned.
Votes at a glance: police officer entry-level list (approved); firefighter entry-level list (approved); reclassification to police fire administrative manager (approved); deputy police chief exam plan (approved); extension of acting deputy police chief appointment to Sept. 2, 2026 (approved).
