Tumwater will have a new police chief effective Jan. 3.
Tumwater Police Chief Jay Mason announced Monday that Mayor-elect Leatta Dahlhoff had decided Mason’s last day would be Jan. 2. Deputy Chief Carlos Quiles Jr. will lead the department effective Jan. 3.
“I have complete confidence in his leadership, his judgment and his ability to guide this organization forward,” Mason said Monday in a Tumwater Police Department blog post, adding that he has asked the Tumwater Police Department to give their full support to Quiles, Dahlhoff and her team.
The chief of police serves the mayor as an at-will employee, and the mayor has full authority to replace the police chief, according to Mason.
“I believe that a new mayor should have the opportunity to build a leadership team that aligns with their vision for the city,” Mason said.
Mason was hired as Tumwater’s police chief in April 2025 following the retirement of longtime Chief Jon Weiks.
Mason was originally hired by the Tumwater Police Department in 1993.
“Serving as a police officer with the Tumwater Police Department has been one of the greatest honors of my life — second only to my faith and my family,” Mason said. “Tumwater has truly become home for me and my family, and I am deeply grateful for the many people who have supported me along this journey.”
Dahloff will start her first term as Tumwater’s mayor on Jan. 1 after beating conservative candidate Lance Brender at the ballot box with 65.15% of the vote. Dahlhoff has served two terms on Tumwater city council and was serving as mayor pro tem when she became mayor elect.
Mason’s full statement about the Tumwater Police Department leadership transition can be read below:
I want to let our community know about a significant change that is impacting TPD. I was informed by the Mayor Elect that my last day with the City of Tumwater will be Jan 2. The Chief of Police serves the mayor as an at-will employee, and this decision is fully within her authority. I believe that a new mayor should have the opportunity to build a leadership team that aligns with their vision for the city.
Deputy Chief Quiles will be leading the department moving forward, and I will continue to support him in every way I can. I have complete confidence in his leadership, his judgment, and his ability to guide this organization forward. I have asked TPD to give their full support to DC Quiles, as well as the Mayor Elect and her team. I hope you will do so, as well.
While transitions may be difficult, they can bring with them tremendous opportunity: the chance to bring up new leaders with new ideas, challenge ourselves in new ways, and take a thoughtful look at the “why” behind our decisions about how we do our work.
Serving as a police officer with the Tumwater Police Department has been one of the greatest honors of my life—second only to my faith and my family. Tumwater has truly become home for me and my family, and I am deeply grateful for the many people who have supported me along this journey.
While the roles of police officer and police chief can at times feel solitary, I have never felt alone here. The support, trust, and sense of community in Tumwater have always been present, and I cannot adequately express my appreciation for that.
I would like to leave you with one final thought. Someone I deeply admire recently shared this quote with me: “Crime happens in the dark. Police need to be the light.” We should always bring the light and truth wherever we go.
You deserve a police department that leads with a heart for service and genuine dedication to its community. That is your police department. That is the Tumwater Police Department.
