Puyallup Civil Service Commission Meeting - May 18, 2026
Puyallup Civil Service Commission Meeting - May 18, 2026
The Civil Service Commission convened on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 9:02 AM in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Three commissioners were present (Spracklen, Case, Garg) and two were excused (Chair Smith, Commissioner Kelly). The meeting was called to order by Administrative Clerk Yessenia Abarca and adjourned at 9:19 AM. All votes were unanimous 3-0. Key actions included the election of officers, approval of three police officer eligibility lists, and updates from the Chief and Chief Examiner.
Appointment of Interim Chair
- Commissioner Case moved and Commissioner Garg seconded to elect Commissioner Spracklen as Interim Chair for the meeting. The motion passed 3-0.
Approval of the Agenda
- Commissioner Case moved and Commissioner Garg seconded to approve the agenda. The motion passed 3-0.
Election of Chair and Vice Chair
- Commissioner Spracklen moved and Commissioner Garg seconded to reappoint Dan Smith as Chair. The motion passed 3-0.
- Commissioner Case moved and Commissioner Garg seconded to elect Brian Spracklen as Vice Chair. The motion passed 3-0.
Approval of Minutes
- Commissioner Garg moved and Commissioner Case seconded to approve the February 17, 2026 meeting minutes. The motion passed 3-0.
New Business: Approval of Eligibility Lists
Lateral Police Officer Eligibility List
- Chief Examiner Katie Ortega reported that one lateral candidate, Casey Metzger, was interviewed on May 7, 2026. He passed with 70% or higher and was described by assessors as a "very strong lateral candidate." He is currently employed with the Pacific Police Department and seeks to join a larger department with better community support and advancement opportunities. The motion to approve the list (1 candidate) passed 3-0.
Blended Advanced Entry Level Police Officer Eligibility List
- Two advanced entry candidates were interviewed on April 28, 2026. Both passed with 70% or higher. One is a corrections officer transitioning to police officer; the other is from Island County Police Department. They were added to the existing list in score order, producing a blended list of 4 candidates: Brad Anglin, Tyler Campbell, Jonathan Crandall, Caroline Martin-Melgar. The motion to approve passed 3-0.
Blended Entry Level Police Officer Eligibility List
- Seven entry level interviews were conducted on May 7, 2026. Six candidates passed (70% or higher); one did not due to background issues. They were added to the existing list in score order, producing a blended list of 10 candidates: Matheo Suarez, Mason Xavier, Danny Nguyen, Christopher Alvarez Naranjo, Ennis Roberson, Emily Stancil, Aima Tuiasosopo, Marques Reese, Forrest Preston, Jacob Albers. The motion to approve passed 3-0.
Chief's Report
- Deputy Chief Gregory Massey (on behalf of Chief Engle) reported no substantive items and thanked the Commission for the approvals. He noted the department looks forward to advancing to the Chief's interview stage for new hires at the Puyallup Police Department (PPD).
Chief Examiner's Report
- CE Katie Ortega announced the next meeting scheduled for June 15, 2026, at City Hall Council Chambers. The department has openings due to expected retirements. Since February, one lateral hire (Cameron Ashworth) was made, and no candidates are currently in background. She highlighted the new PPD facility, encouraging commissioners to visit.
Key Outcomes
- All motions passed unanimously (3-0).
- Three eligibility lists were approved: 1 lateral, 4 advanced entry, and 10 entry level candidates.
- Dan Smith was reappointed Chair; Brian Spracklen was elected Vice Chair.
- Next regular meeting set for June 15, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, the time currently is 9.02 with three individuals um currently uh attending the meeting out of our five commissioners. We haven't called roll call yet. But since Chair Dan Smith is not currently able to attend this meeting, what we would have to do is I'll uh I just called the meeting to order at 9.02. Um we will have to have an election uh for an interim chair person to run this meeting temporarily so then we can get the meeting started and then after that um the interim chair will go ahead and just take over. We'll go ahead and proceed with uh roll call doing uh the approval of the agenda, and then we'll the elect a chair and a vice chair. If a new chair at this meeting is um elected, that chairperson or vice chairperson will take over this meeting. But if you choose to elect somebody that is not currently here, the interim chair will still go ahead and um uh carry this meeting for the remainder of the meeting. Now, is it possible for us to vote to defer the elections until next uh meeting when um we have uh a larger group? Um unfortunately not in our puelt municipal code. The elections are actually supposed to take place after the first Wednesday in the month of March. So I know we haven't had a uh a meeting here in I think two or three months, but uh per the the code, we would have to have the elections at this first meeting after March. Gotcha. Okay. Uh Scott, are you feeling up to taking uh charge of this meeting? Scott's on mute. He might be having an issue. Commissioner Spracklin, would you be willing to lead this meeting today? Um I I can do it. Okay, can I nominate Commissioner Bracken? Or Spracken, sorry. Um good morning. How are you? Good, man. How you doing? Welcome, yeah. Uh I'm back on, sorry. So we just saw a motion to uh elect Commissioner Spracklin uh to temporarily chair today's meeting. I'm not sure if you heard that, Commissioner Case. Oh, I heard it. I was just trying to find the unmute button. Thank God it don't work with no red. Um I would think Brian would be great to be the interim. Beautiful. So is that a second, Scott? Just a second. Okay. Uh well, motion uh all in favor. Aye. Aye. Motion approved. All right. Well, I uh I I appreciate your confidence in in me taking this over. I'm not sure that I'm gonna be uh amazing at it, but we'll we'll muddle through for sure. Um so I guess we need to start with uh roll call then. Yes. Okay. Okay. Um interim. I'm sorry, not interim. Um commissioner Scott Case.
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