Today marks an important milestone for the Tumwater Police Department and the community we proudly serve. I am pleased to announce that, following a comprehensive seven‑month implementation process, Tumwater Police Officers are now equipped with body‑worn cameras while in the field.

The deployment of body‑worn cameras enhances officer capabilities, supports accurate documentation of community interactions, and further strengthens transparency in our daily operations. This technology reflects our continued commitment to professionalism, accountability, and public trust.

In accordance with Tumwater Police Department Policy 539, officers wear body‑worn cameras in a fixed position on the front torso, allowing for the reasonable capture of accurate recordings. Officers are required to make every reasonable effort to activate their cameras when engaged in law enforcement actions. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Self‑initiated law enforcement activities, such as traffic stops, field interviews, and citizen contacts
• Any contact that becomes adversarial following an initial interaction that would otherwise not be recorded
• Dispatched calls for service resulting in in‑person contact, unless an exception applies as outlined in policy
• Attempting to detain or arrest an individual
• Any circumstance in which the officer reasonably believes a recording would be appropriate
• Custodial interviews of adults for felony offenses
• Custodial interviews of juveniles for any offense
• When directed by a supervisor

The successful implementation of this vital technology would not have been possible without the collaboration and support of many partners. I would like to sincerely thank:

• The Tumwater community
• Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff
• The Tumwater City Council
• The Tumwater Police Guild

This project demonstrates that open communication, cooperation, and collaboration truly benefit everyone involved. The Tumwater Police Department is proud to join our law enforcement partners throughout Thurston County in utilizing body‑worn camera technology to better serve our community.

The Tumwater Police Department remains committed to providing the highest level of public safety services to our community, including maintaining strong partnerships with the Tumwater School District and ensuring a safe environment for students and staff.

Like many law enforcement agencies across the state and nation, we are currently experiencing a significant staffing shortage. At present, approximately thirty percent of our sworn officer positions are unavailable due to vacancies, officers awaiting academy placement, personnel in training, or members assigned to limited duty status because of medical conditions. These realities require us to continually evaluate how we deploy our personnel to ensure we can meet our most critical responsibility, responding to emergencies and protecting the public.

To maintain minimum patrol staffing levels necessary to provide timely emergency response, the department made the difficult decision to temporarily reassign one of our two School Resource Officers. This decision followed the reassignment of all other specialty positions within the department and was made only after careful consideration of available alternatives. It was, quite simply, the last available option to preserve essential patrol staffing.

Officer Seth Stauffer has assumed responsibility for School Resource Officer services at both high schools and both middle schools. He is a dedicated and highly capable officer who is performing exceptionally well in this role. He has my full confidence, and our department remains committed to ensuring that any concerns, incidents, or emergencies within our schools are addressed promptly by Officer Stauffer and our patrol personnel.

The presence of School Resource Officers remains a priority for the Tumwater Police Department. As we hire, train, and deploy additional officers to full patrol status, restoring the second School Resource Officer position will be the first specialty assignment we reestablish.

We appreciate the community’s continued support, partnership, and understanding as we work through these staffing challenges. Our commitment to the safety of our schools and the well-being of our community remains unwavering.

Respectfully,
Carlos Quiles

Acting Police Chief
Tumwater Police Department

In light of recent events nationally and the need to be clear and proactive in our stance, the City of Tumwater and the Tumwater Police Department would like to take a moment to speak directly to our community. We recognize that many, particularly within immigrant and marginalized communities, are feeling pain and uncertainty. We believe it is important to clearly communicate our values, our role, and our approach regarding immigration matters.

The Tumwater Police Department is committed to serving and protecting all members of our community. To that end, we would like to clearly affirm the following:

• Members of the Tumwater Police Department do not engage in immigration enforcement.
• Members of the Tumwater Police Department do not assist with, participate in, or support federal immigration law enforcement efforts or operations.
• Members of the Tumwater Police Department do not share, provide, or disclose information about any individual to those engaged in immigration enforcement, including federal immigration authorities, unless required by a valid court order or judicial warrant.
• The Washington State Attorney General’s Model Policy is the governing authority for Tumwater Police Department Policy 570 regarding immigration enforcement.

Further, the Tumwater Police Department is one of only 19 police and sheriff organizations in Washington State that have formally submitted their policy to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, attesting that it fully aligns with the Attorney General’s Model Policy and complies with state law. More information on these policies can be found at: https://www.atg.wa.gov/keep-washington-working-policies and https://www.atg.wa.gov/keep-washington-working-act-faq-law-enforcement.

The City of Tumwater, the City Council, and the Tumwater Police Department believe deeply in a community that is safe, inclusive, and welcoming to all. We exist to serve and support those in need regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, social status, or immigration status. Our commitment is to the well-being and dignity of every person who lives, works, or visits here.

In Tumwater, we strive to be a community where all are welcome, valued, and respected.

Carlos Quiles
Acting Chief of Police
City of Tumwater