By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Two sergeants at the Centralia Police Department will be promoted to commander positions effective Jan. 1.
They are Sgt. Stacy Denham and detective Sgt. Pat Fitzgerald, who have been working as acting commanders since the chief demoted the two officers who were commanders when he took over the department in May.
Centralia Police Chief Carl Nielsen said testing was done last week for the positions. His announcement of the change is on the agenda this evening for the Civil Service Commission meeting, Nielsen said.
Former Cmdr. Dave Ross was reassigned to a sergeant position on June 1 and Cmdr. Jim Rich moved to a sergeant position on July 2. Rich was, along with Nielsen, one of the finalist to replace outgoing Chief Bob Berg earlier this year.