Carlos Quiles confirmed as chief of Tumwater Police Department

Carlos Quiles

Courtesy of City of Tumwater

The Tumwater City Council confirmed the appointment of Carlos Quiles as the new chief of the Tumwater Police Department.

The city council authorized Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff to sign an employment agreement with Quiles, who has been the acting police chief since Jan 3. He replaced Jay Mason, following the mayor's decision to fire the former chief a few months after she took office. 

Quiles has more than 24 years of law enforcement experience under the City of Tumwater, including 15 years in SWAT service. He joined the police department in 2002, was promoted to lieutenant in 2008, and to deputy chief in October 2025. 

In a brief statement to the council, Quiles said he was grateful for the appointment and appreciated the transparency in the process. 

The appointment of the police chief needing confirmation from the city council stems from a recent amendment to the Tumwater Municipal Code. Prior to an ordinance passed on May 19, the mayor had the sole discretion of appointing the police chief. 

Some council members commended Quiles for the role he played in the process and his leadership.

Kelly Von Holtz noted how he had insisted on going through the full application process before he was appointed as deputy chief. 

“Law enforcement sometimes has a rep of being a good old boys club. You wanted to go through the process and be up against other people. I think that just spoke volumes to me,” Von Holtz said. 

Angela Jefferson also praised Quiles for maintaining high morale within the police department, sharing that officers always speak positively of him when she asks about his leadership. 

Quiles will be officially sworn in on June 16. He will have a starting monthly salary of $17,436.