Chief Robert Berg announced the promotion of three police officers to sergeants in the Centralia Police Department (CPD) after an exhaustive testing process involving seven department officers.

“The quality of the candidates was outstanding and the completion was positive,” Berg stated as he announced the promotions. Two of the sergeant positions replaced Commanders Jim Rich and Dave Ross, who filled positions vacated by John Boren and Robert Willey. The third sergeant fills a patrol supervisor position held by Sergeant Jim Shannon, who transferred to the department’s special operations division; which consists of the anti-crime team, the traffic unit, and the school resource officer.

Officer Carl Buster has served as a detective in the department, assigned to property crimes and as a member of the joint CPD - Riverside Fire Authority Fire Cause and Origin Team. Buster has been with the department 14 years. He is currently a member of the CPD SWAT team and is also a departmental instructor in less lethal munitions. Sergeant Buster was promoted April 14 and will assume duties as a patrol team supervisor.

Officer Brian Warren has served as a patrol officer/K-9 officer. He began employment with CPD in 1999, has worked as a drug enforcement detective and as a member of the SWAT Team. Sergeant Warren was promoted April 15 and will assume duties as a patrol team supervisor. He will remain on the SWAT team, serving as assistant team leader, and will continue as one of two K-9 officers in the department.

Officer Stacy Denham has served as a member of the traffic unit. He came to CPD in 2006 as a lateral entry police officer from the Chehalis Police Department; where he had served 12 years with assignments to detectives, drug investigations, and SWAT. He is also a member of the CPD SWAT team. Sergeant Denham was promoted April 16 and will assume duties as a patrol team supervisor.

These three sergeants will join three other CPD sergeants (Kurt Reichert, Patrol Team Supervisor; Jim Shannon, Special Operations Supervisor; and Pat Fitzgerald, Detective Division Supervisor). These promotions, coupled with the anticipated hiring of a police officer in mid May, will bring the department to its authorized staffing level of 34 commissioned officers (One chief, two commanders, six sergeants, and 25 officers).

“I am pleased to see these three bright and energetic sergeants join the department’s leadership team as we work in partnership with our community to protect life and property, reduce crime, and enhance the security and quality of life in our city,” concluded Berg.