To celebrate National Police Week, the Centralia Police Department swore in two new officers and handed out its 2024 awards and recognitions during the Centralia City Council meeting Tuesday night.
The department welcomed officers Daniel Fanton and Franklyn Ramos after they graduated from the academy last month. Their class motto in the academy was, “When others won’t, we will,” which stuck out to Police Chief Andy Caldwell as he introduced the new officers.
“I think in our current day and age, it says so much. That’s such an important thing for police officers to be willing to do and to come here,” he said.
Fanton was previously a corrections deputy with the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office and worked as a human resources manager at a logistics company before moving to Centralia in 2024.
“He applied to the department about a year before moving here, and just from talking to him, once he got down here, he absolutely loved the community,” Caldwell said of Fanton, who hails from New Haven, Connecticut. “It is a joy to listen to him talk about his experiences in downtown Centralia.”
Ramos has lived in Yelm his whole life and worked as security for Providence Centralia Hospital. According to Caldwell, Ramos had the biggest “cheering squad” of people trying to get him hired at CPD of anyone he’s seen.
“He had an entire group of people that was regularly calling, checking up on him and giving him good recommendations without solicitation,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell also credited Ramos for the CPD being involved in the “Chief for a Day” program that allows a child with a terminal or debilitating illness to pair with the chief for a day. Ramos was a chief for a day when he was 10 years old, Caldwell said.
Both officers read their codes of ethics before being sworn in alongside their families. The next order of business for the police department was its awards and recognition, starting with years of service.
Caldwell honored Commander Buddy Croy, 20 years; court security officer Brian Thompson, 10 years; and Sgt. Tracy Murphy, 30 years. Croy was absent, but Thompson and Murphy each received pins for their milestones.
Caldwell also gave a letter of recognition to volunteer Per Flygare, who helps with animal control and a variety of events.
“Per’s dedication to the Centralia Police Department as a volunteer is remarkable. It is volunteers like Per who help us with everything, and it’s not just the animals,” Caldwell said. “He helps us with Night Out With Santa, he helps us with the Borst lights with the association, and he helps with everything we do.”
Officer Daniel Cox received a certificate for recognition of a high degree of competence and professionalism and performance in departmental duties as he led the department with 35 DUI arrests in 2024.
Detective Mitch King, Officer Jason Roberts, Sgt. Alan Hitchcock and Sgt. Timothy O’Dell each received a certificate of commendation. Caldwell also gave a certificate of commendation to a quartet — Sgt. Michela Barela, Officer August Shulda, Officer Caleb Parsons, and Detective Emmet Woods — who worked on a shooting in downtown Centralia last June and quickly took the suspect into custody.
Karen St. Clair received the 2024 volunteer of the year award as Caldwell called her “an absolute machine that nonstop works for us.” The chief praised her efforts as a records tech, the secretary for the Police Officers Association, organizing the Borst lights, taking care of animals, and organizing Night Out With Santa.
“She’s just a driving force that supports this community, and it’s absolutely incredible what she’s able to accomplish,” Caldwell said. “It is an absolute pleasure to have her work in our office and to be a part of our organization.”
Naomi Hursh, the department’s emergency management assistant, earned the 2024 non-commissioned employee of the year award for her efforts in increasing the agency’s reach on social media and as the volunteer coordinator.
“I can’t tell you how much she’s appreciated and how much she’s done for our agency and does for our agency,” Caldwell said.
Detective Sgt. Chad Withrow took home the 2024 commissioned employee of the year honor, and Caldwell described him as a “remarkable individual” and said he earned the award due to his leadership qualities, particularly in difficult situations. Withrow was nominated by three officers for the award.
“Sgt. Withrow worked on the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team for quite a while. There was a time about three years ago where we had an unfortunate circumstance where a cartel had made threats against his life and his family. They actually had to move into what was essentially witness protection,” Caldwell said. “Chad did it in a way that was absolutely remarkable. He made sure that his family was taken care of and did exactly what he needed to do until the federal agencies were able to neutralize that threat.”
