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Record of Proceedings

Puyallup Civil Service Commission Meeting - August 18, 2025

City Council & Commissions — Monday, August 18, 2025
BodyPuyallup, Washington
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateMonday, August 18, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 19:15

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0:05

Okay, you're all set.

0:06

Okay, is everybody?

0:08

Do we have all five?

0:11

Do yes.

0:13

Okay.

0:14

Uh roll call.

0:16

Commissioner Case.

0:19

Present.

0:20

Commissioner Spracklin.

0:22

President.

0:24

Commissioner Kelly.

0:25

Present.

0:26

Vice Chair Kenitson.

0:29

Present.

0:30

Chair Smith.

0:31

Present.

0:32

Thank you.

0:34

The meeting is called to order.

0:36

First uh on the agenda is the approval of the agenda.

0:39

I would entertain a motion to approve the agenda as sent to us last week.

0:44

Motion to approve.

0:46

Second.

0:47

Okay.

0:48

Any additions or changes we need to make to the agenda?

0:52

Hearing none, all uh in favor of approving the agenda, please signify by saying aye.

0:58

Aye.

0:59

Aye.

1:00

Okay, done.

1:02

Consideration of the minutes.

1:03

The minutes were sent to us uh from I I believe it was August 18.

1:07

Excuse me, July, whenever it was.

1:10

Um the minutes were sent to us in our packet last week.

1:14

Um, I would entertain a motion to approve the minutes as sent.

1:19

Motion to approve the minutes.

1:21

And is there in a second?

1:22

And any discussion changes or additions that need to be made to the minutes.

1:28

Okay, I would entertain a motion to, or excuse me, all in favor of approving the minutes, signify by saying aye.

1:34

Aye.

1:37

Okay, new business.

1:39

Katie, approval of entry level corrections officers.

1:42

I think we have five.

1:43

Yes, good morning, everyone.

1:45

So we held entry level corrections oral boards on August 6th.

1:50

Uh, we invited 10 applicants to interview and eight of those uh invited scheduled interviews.

1:56

Um, as is usual for our process, they're interviewed by a panel of three assessors whose scores were averaged.

2:02

And of that group, five passed, two failed, and one candidate did not show.

2:08

Uh so the candidates were placed in order of score to create a new entry-level corrections officer eligibility list.

2:15

Uh, we're noting here that this is not a blended list as the previous five applicants uh all uh filled out of the process either by not passing our background process or not responding to communications um for further steps in the process.

2:31

Um so they were all awash, and we're starting fresh with five new ones in order of score, uh, as follows.

2:37

The first is Alex Fann, two, Jalen Noah, three, Joseph Addison, four, Sabrina Berwick, and five, Aaron Crane.

2:50

All right, I'd entertain a motion to approve the list as presented.

2:54

So move.

2:55

And a second.

2:57

Second.

2:58

Okay, any discussion or questions regarding this.

3:04

Hearing none, I um all in favor of approving the list as presented by Ms.

3:08

Ortega signify by saying aye.

3:10

Aye.

3:11

Aye.

3:12

Okay, motion approved.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety█████████████████████████████████████████████49%
Procedural███████████████████████25%
Personnel Matters██████████████████20%
Community Engagement██████6%
Summary of Proceedings

Puyallup Civil Service Commission Meeting - August 18, 2025

The Puyallup Civil Service Commission met on August 18, 2025, at 9:00 AM at City Hall. The commission unanimously approved three eligibility lists for corrections and police officer positions, received updates on staffing, vacancies, and hiring challenges, and discussed the recent Police Safety Building groundbreaking ceremony.

Consent Calendar

  • The August 18, 2025 agenda was approved unanimously (5-0).
  • The July 21, 2025 meeting minutes were approved unanimously (5-0).

Discussion Items

  • Entry Level Corrections Officer Eligibility List: Chief Examiner Katie Ortega reported on oral boards held August 6th. Ten applicants were invited, eight scheduled interviews, five passed, two failed, one no-show. The five candidates placed on the list in score order are: Alex Phan, Jalen Noa, Joseph Addison, Sabrina Berwick, Erin Crain. The list was approved (5-0).
  • Blended Entry Level Police Officer Eligibility List: CE Ortega reported on oral boards held August 7th. Twenty-two applicants invited, eight scheduled interviews, six passed, two failed. The six were added to a blended list with five existing candidates, for a total of 11 in score order: Daniel Musselman, Adrian Castillo, Jared Cortel, Alexander Phan, Matheo Suarez, Clay Rayment, Michael Boushy, Pavel Zaytesev, Guillermo Diaz-Gulaco, Luke Lash, Marques Reese. Discussion: Commissioner Spracklen asked about eligibility duration (one year) and noted that Luke Lash's eligibility expires August 22, 2025. CE Ortega explained that due to the blending rule of five, Lash is not in the top five. Chief Scott Engle confirmed four current police vacancies (three retirements, one termination) with a fifth expected in September. The list was approved (5-0).
  • Blended Lateral Police Officer Eligibility List: One lateral candidate interview was held August 7th; the candidate passed. The list has two candidates: Noe Gonzalez (currently with Tukwila PD) and Christopher Backus (Grand Coulee). Backus's eligibility expires October 21, 2025. The list was approved (5-0).
  • Chief's Report: Chief Engle thanked commissioners who attended the August 14th Police Safety Building groundbreaking ceremony. He reported four police officer vacancies (three retirements, one termination) and one more expected. On the corrections side, two vacancies (retirement and termination). Four officers are currently in training; two will soon be field-ready. Entry-level officer Zion Gregory graduated the academy. Chief Engle noted challenges with background checks: some candidates were dishonest about prior processes. He also highlighted decreased crime trends, attributed to programs, a new data analyst, and proactive policing. Motor vehicle theft is decreasing.
  • Chief Examiner's Report: CE Ortega noted that a September meeting is typically not held due to the Puyallup Fair, but asked commissioners to hold September 15th in case additional corrections interviews are conducted.
  • Commissioner Comments: Commissioner Spracklen praised the groundbreaking ceremony, noting attendance exceeded expectations. He thanked staff for organizing the event and complimented Chief Engle's speech.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved Entry Level Corrections Officer Eligibility List (5-0)
  • Approved Blended Entry Level Police Officer Eligibility List (5-0)
  • Approved Blended Lateral Police Officer Eligibility List (5-0)
  • Commissioners will hold September 15th as a tentative meeting date if needed.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, you're all set. Okay, is everybody? Do we have all five? Do yes. Okay. Uh roll call. Commissioner Case. Present. Commissioner Spracklin. President. Commissioner Kelly. Present. Vice Chair Kenitson. Present. Chair Smith. Present. Thank you. The meeting is called to order. First uh on the agenda is the approval of the agenda. I would entertain a motion to approve the agenda as sent to us last week. Motion to approve. Second. Okay. Any additions or changes we need to make to the agenda? Hearing none, all uh in favor of approving the agenda, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Okay, done. Consideration of the minutes. The minutes were sent to us uh from I I believe it was August 18. Excuse me, July, whenever it was. Um the minutes were sent to us in our packet last week. Um, I would entertain a motion to approve the minutes as sent. Motion to approve the minutes. And is there in a second? And any discussion changes or additions that need to be made to the minutes. Okay, I would entertain a motion to, or excuse me, all in favor of approving the minutes, signify by saying aye. Aye. Okay, new business. Katie, approval of entry level corrections officers. I think we have five. Yes, good morning, everyone. So we held entry level corrections oral boards on August 6th. Uh, we invited 10 applicants to interview and eight of those uh invited scheduled interviews. Um, as is usual for our process, they're interviewed by a panel of three assessors whose scores were averaged. And of that group, five passed, two failed, and one candidate did not show. Uh so the candidates were placed in order of score to create a new entry-level corrections officer eligibility list. Uh, we're noting here that this is not a blended list as the previous five applicants uh all uh filled out of the process either by not passing our background process or not responding to communications um for further steps in the process. Um so they were all awash, and we're starting fresh with five new ones in order of score, uh, as follows. The first is Alex Fann, two, Jalen Noah, three, Joseph Addison, four, Sabrina Berwick, and five, Aaron Crane.

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