Tenino Eyeing Yelm Police Officer for Chief Position

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Tenino is one step closer to having a new chief of police.

During a special meeting on March 31, the Tenino City Council confirmed the application of Officer Don Moody, currently of the Yelm Police Department.

Moody is Tenino Mayor Wayne Fournier’s personal appointee for the position. Despite the council’s recent confirmation, there are a few steps remaining in the hiring process.

Fournier and Moody have been reluctant to speak on the ongoing process, citing past issues the city has encountered while trying to get a police chief in place.

“In the past I think we’ve gotten the cart in front of the horse,” said Moody. “I know they confirmed my application, but I still have some additional processes to go through.”

Mayor Fournier said that one of the steps remaining for Moody is a psychological exam. Fournier said that there is a chance the hire could be made official as soon as April 12 at the regularly scheduled city council meeting.

During the special meeting last week, Moody’s application was confirmed unanimously by the city council, although only three council members were present for the vote. John O’Callahan was one of the absent members, but he had asked for permission to participate in the meeting via telephone. Fournier ultimately denied O’Callahan’s request, which upset the council member. O’Callahan noted that council member Craig Lester was allowed to participate in a city council meeting by phone on March 22, and theorized that his exclusion by Fournier from the special meeting was based on his reluctance to rubber stamp Moody for the position.

The Tenino Independent reported that O’Callahan has previously objected to Moody’s official job application not being available for review at City Hall. O’Callahan noted that the application is public information and that it is illegal for it to be purposefully withheld. At the special meeting, Fournier confirmed that the application is not available for public review.

“I’m the only one who has seen this person’s (Moody) application. I’m the only one who knows all his qualifications,” said Fournier at the special meeting.

Despite Moody’s 10 years of experience in law enforcement, some council members have also expressed concern over Moody’s lack of management experience.

For his part, Moody is not sure what will happen as the process continues. He simply expressed a desire to wrap up all of the formalities of the hiring process and to begin his work policing the Tenino community.

Still, Moody noted, “Nothing is firm at this point.”

Tenino City Council meetings happen on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month and begin at 7 p.m. The next meeting will be on April 12 at Tenino City Hall.

Tenino has been without a police chief since the termination of former chief John Hutchings in March 2015. Hutchings was fired for working an excess of hours. Since his termination, he has filed a defamation lawsuit for $850,000.

Russ Ellis was selected as an interim chief but lacked certification.

His role at the department ended after he finished some administrative duties.