Mattawa mayor gives statement on police
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 7 months AGO
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | May 12, 2021 1:00 AM
MATTAWA — Mattawa City Council members are not saying what changes they will make, if any, in the Mattawa Police Department in the wake of the firing of Joe Harris, the former chief of police. Meanwhile, Mayor Maria Celaya, in a statement Tuesday, promised more public discussion when in-person meetings of the city council resume.
Celaya did not say when in-person meetings would resume.
The Herald asked council members and Celaya about the direction and future of the police department. All but one of the seven council members declined to answer.
Alex Heredia said he thought the department was going in the right direction and his goal is to put the puzzle pieces back together.
Two other council members answered a phone call but declined to answer the question.
“I can’t speak,” said council member Vicente Acosta.
Council member Tony Acosta (no relation to Vicente Acosta) said he would answer, subject to the restrictions approved in January. But he didn’t have any further response.
Council members Sun Hwang, Wendy Lopez, Brian Berghout and Silvia Barajas did not respond to emails or phone calls on the subject.
The council unanimously passed a resolution in January designating Celaya as the only person who could answer questions from the media for the city.
Celaya sent a response Tuesday afternoon.
“The council’s priority continues to be the public safety and welfare of its community and citizens,” Celaya’s statement said. “In that regard, the council and mayor are working together closely to evaluate the changing needs of the police department to ensure excellent leadership, staffing, training, resources and customer service. The council and mayor look forward to the opportunity to resume in-person council meetings so that we can engage in more direct conversations and share our vision for the Mattawa community.”
Earlier, the city hired Capt. Mike Williams, of the Moses Lake Police Department, as the interim chief of police in Mattawa. Approved by the Mattawa council April 27, an interlocal agreement for the arrangement between Mattawa and Moses Lake runs for three months.
Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Three arrested in Royal City area thefts case
ROYAL CITY — Three men were arrested and booked into the Grant County Jail on suspicion of possessing stolen property after a search was served on a home near Beverly Thursday.
More park improvements planned for Royal City in ‘26
ROYAL CITY — Lions Park in Royal City now has a soccer field, so city officials will be working on the next phase of improvements in 2026. The first phase of upgrades to Apple Avenue also is scheduled for 2026, and both are among the projects reflected in the city’s 2026 budget. The budget was approved by Royal City City Council members Tuesday.
Sleep Diagnostic Center physician pleads guilty to Medicaid fraud
Charges involve charging Apple Health for recalled, altered CPAP devices
BREWSTER — A Brewster physician who operates a sleep diagnostic clinic in Moses Lake and Wenatchee will be sentenced March 24 as part of a Wednesday plea deal on Medicaid fraud charges.