MLPD shuffles deck

Four promotions in two weeks plus one officer leaves for military duty

MOSES LAKE — A new era is beginning at the Moses Lake Police Department.

Since Sept. 20, the organization has a new leader, with the retirement of longtime chief Fred Haynes having become official and the promotion of Assistant Chief Dean Mitchell to the top spot. However, the changes do not stop there.

Next Monday, three more promotions will take place, all within the department. Sgt. Jim Jenkins will be promoted to Captain, Officer Mike Williams will be promoted to Sergeant and Officer Brian Jones will be promoted to Corporal.

"I feel good about (the changes)," Mitchell said. "It's nice to see people who started here move up."

Jenkins has been a member of the department for more than two decades, having served in a variety of areas within the MLPD, including its investigation unit, its graveyard shift, and as its school resources officer.

As captain, Jenkins will split duties with the department's other captain, Dave Ruffin. While Ruffin will remain in charge of the areas of investigation, patrol and training, Jenkins will supervise the areas of accreditation, act as the department's public information officer and manage the department's support services.

The area of support services will include, besides dealing with the media, dealing with grants, evidence, clerical personnel, police equipment and the department's crime prevention and community services programs.

Williams will take over Jenkins' old spot as sergeant, supervising the patrol shifts. A native of the Seattle area and a onetime reporter for the Herald, Williams has been a patrol officer and a school resources officer, among other tasks during his nine years in the department.

Jones, a native of Spokane, will supervise the patrol shifts when the sergeant is on his days off, Mitchell said.

Before becoming a corporal, Jones served for six years in the department, two of which were spent as an officer for the Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team. He has been a member of the U.S. Marine Corps, as well.

The news is not all good at the MLPD. Officer Beau Montgomery, a member of the MLPD for 18 months, has been activated into Army duty effective Friday.

"He will be activated for at least a year," said Mitchell, who added that they will try to fill the position with a couple of provisional officers with experience.

"It's always something," he said regarding the departure of Montgomery, and the fact that there is still one officer position unfilled.

Still, Mitchell said he was happy with the other changes.

"It's nice to be able to promote these people," he said, adding "we all know what to expect from the people who have been promoted," given the in-house nature of the changes.