Mattawa mayor gives statement on police
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 10 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].
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