Centralia Police Chief Stacy Denham selected as city manager of Chehalis
Apr. 22—Centralia Police Department Chief Stacy Denham has been selected as the next city manager of Chehalis, according to a Monday news release.
"The Chehalis City Council is excited to announce their agreement with Stacy Denham, who will assume the role of city manager starting June 1, 2024," the release stated. "We eagerly anticipate the fresh ideas, dynamic leadership and strategic partnerships Mr. Denham will bring to help us propel our city into a promising future."
Denham has lived in the Chehalis area for over 30 years and was employed as a Chehalis police officer for over 12 years before being hired by the Centralia Police Department.
While with the Centralia Police Department, Denham was promoted through the ranks to chief of police.
"The Chehalis City Council would like to thank everyone who participated in the hiring process, including Chehalis staff, business owners and community members," the city stated in a news release. "Having input from our community is vital to ensuring transparency in the process and that we hire the right person to be our next city manager."
Denham will replace Jill Anderson, who is retiring.
After former Chehalis City Manager Merlin MacReynold retired in late 2016, Anderson came to Chehalis as the new city manager. Now 60, Anderson plans on enjoying her retirement and remaining in Chehalis with her husband, who is also retired.
Denham has over 30 years of law enforcement experience. He has been with the Centralia Police Department since 2006 when he started as a police officer and progressed through the ranks, serving as a sergeant, commander and deputy chief, and he has been chief of police since 2020. Prior to joining the Centralia Police Department, he was a police officer for Chehalis from 1994 to 2006. Denham has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and public administration from Liberty University and an associate's degree in criminal justice from Centralia College. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
He was one of two finalists for the city manager position after a third dropped out.
The other candidate was Peter Boyce.
Boyce has almost 25 years of experience in city and county government. He was most recently city administrator for the City of Woodland, where he served for over seven years. Prior to that, he was with the City of Gladstone, Oregon, from 2008 to 2015, where he first served as assistant city administrator, then city administrator for over six years. Boyce was county administrator for Wabasha County, Minnesota, and he served Anaconda and Deer Lodge in Montana, first as clerk and recorder, and then as chief executive officer. He has a bachelor's degree in technology and business development from Montana Technological University.
This article will be updated.
