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Tumwater Civil Service Commission approves multiple police and fire eligibility lists, reclassifies training post
Summary
At its May 14 meeting the Tumwater Civil Service Commission approved several eligibility lists for police and fire positions, reclassified a police training lieutenant to a training sergeant role for succession planning, and approved a police executive assistant list after recent exams.
The Tumwater Civil Service Commission on May 14 approved a slate of personnel eligibility lists and a reclassification intended to broaden advancement opportunities within the police department.
Michelle Sutherland, the commission’s chief examiner, told commissioners the May 2026 police officer entry-level list includes 13 candidates — with four added and six removed since the prior list — and asked the commission to approve the list. "We currently have 13 candidates that have been placed on the police officer entry level eligibility list," Sutherland said. Commissioner Wendy Maddy moved to approve the entry-level list; Chair Pat Schneider seconded and the motion passed.
Sutherland also presented a battalion chief eligibility list containing four candidates (internal applicants at the lieutenant rank), and a certified police officer list for candidates who have graduated the academy but have less than two years’ experience. Acting Police Chief Carlos Keyless clarified differences among entry-level, certified and lateral officers — noting lateral officers typically have more than two years’ experience and are evaluated differently in the hiring process. Both the battalion chief and certified officer lists were approved after motions from Maddy and seconds from Schneider.
The commission approved a reclassification that changes one police training lieutenant position to a police training sergeant post as part of the department’s succession planning. Sutherland said the reclassification is intended to allow sergeants to gain broader exposure to core functions ahead of promotion to lieutenant. Acting Chief Keyless said there is no salary increase tied to the change and that the department worked with the union in developing the plan. "There is not" a salary increase associated with this move, Keyless said when asked.
Sutherland reported that a new police executive assistant position, authorized in the department’s budget, had its examination yesterday and produced seven candidates to place on an eligibility list; the commission approved that list as well. Wendy Maddy moved to approve the police executive assistant eligibility list; Pat Schneider seconded and the motion carried.
The commission took no other formal policy actions at the meeting. The next Civil Service Commission meeting was scheduled for June 11.
