County officer is town's interim police chief

By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch The Eatonville Town Council has approved a plan to make a Pierce County Sheriff Department officer the town's interim police chief. Council members voted July 14 in favor of Lt. Jim Heishman assuming the chief role on a contract basis. He replaces Jason McGuire, the chief since 2012. McGuire asked to return to regular patrol duty, said Mayor Mike Schaub. McGuire remained in the chief role pending the council approval of the town's contract with the county. Under terms of the contract, the town will pay $25,000 for Heisman's services. The agreement will expire Dec. 31 unless the town and the county agree to extend it. Schaub said he and the council must decide before then whether to hire a chief or continue the arrangement through the Sheriff Department. He added there is no plan for the town to possibly receive all of its police services from the county. Heishman oversees the Sheriff Department's Mountain Detachment, which is based in Eatonville's Town Hall building. The unit has 18 deputies assigned to southeast Pierce County, from Spanaway to Mount Rainier. Eatonville's Police Department has four officers.

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