Mayor-elect to replace Tumwater Police Department Chief Mason

Tumwater Police Department Chief Jay Mason is leaving his post nearly nine months after he was chosen for the position by Mayor Debbie Sullivan.

Mason posted a message earlier this month on the police department’s “The Chief’s Page,” in which he wrote about significant change at the law enforcement agency.

“I was informed by the Mayor Elect that my last day with the City of Tumwater will be Jan. 2. The Chief of Police serves the mayor as an at-will employee, and this decision is fully within her authority. I believe that a new mayor should have the opportunity to build a leadership team that aligns with their vision for the city,” Mason wrote.

“Deputy Chief (Carlos) Quiles will be leading the department moving forward, and I will continue to support him in every way I can. I have complete confidence in his leadership, his judgment, and his ability to guide this organization forward. I have asked TPD (Tumwater Police Department) to give their full support to DC Quiles, as well as the Mayor Elect and her team. I hope you will do so, as well.”

Sullivan announced at a city council meeting on April 15 that Mason would replace retiring Chief Jon Weiks on July 1.

She said in making the decision, the city considered conducting an external recruitment but chose to forego the process, The JOLT News reported in April.

“An external recruitment is usually something you do when you need to make sure some culture change … and that’s not what our police department needed because we have a great culture in our police department,” said Sullivan at the time.

The move at the police department comes ahead of a swearing-in ceremony for Mayor-elect Leatta Dahlhoff, who was elected to the position in the Nov. 4 General Election. Sullivan did not run for reelection.

The swearing-in ceremony takes place on Jan. 6 at Tumwater City Hall.