Centralia Police Chief Misses Cut for Lacey Job

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While Centralia Police Chief Carl Nielsen was recently shortlisted for the open Lacey police chief position in Thurston County, he told The Chronicle Friday he isn’t looking to immediately leave Centralia. 

“Basically I finally took my same advice I give to everyone I mentor,” he said. “Always look for opportunity to grow and challenge yourself. That opportunity came up and so I applied and was one of the six interviewed on Tuesday.”

Nielsen, who has been Centralia’s police chief since mid-2015, was not selected as one of the top two candidates. 

“It was a bigger city, a growing city,” he said. “I’m not running from anything, there’s nothing wrong here. It was just an opportunity. I’m still here for the foreseeable future.”

Other candidates interviewed for the job were Ken Semko, interim police chief for Santa Monica, California; Ron Schaub, Pierce Transit public safety chief; Tim Braniff, Thurston County Undersheriff; Dan Yourkoski, Normandy Park police chief; Craig Schwartz, a captain in the city of Santa Rosa, California police department, The Olympian reported this week. 

Nielsen said he plans to focus on his own continuing education in the near future. He already has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in emergency service management, and is considering pursuing a doctorate. 

“I want to stay updated as far as management styles,” he said. “But I also want to teach.”