Following the retirement of former Chief of Police Todd Stancil, the City of Yelm appointed former Assistant Chief of Police Rob Carlson to fill the vacancy on Tuesday, June 28.

Carlson has been a member of Yelm’s police force for 17 years, beginning in March of 2005. The longtime employee has served in several positions for the police department, which included roles as the city’s police sergeant. 

Carlson was sworn into his new role at a Yelm City Council meeting on Tuesday, June 28 by Mayor Joe DePinto.

“I, Rob Carlson, do solemnly swear that as police chief for the City of Yelm, I will carry out my duties in a professional manner with integrity, respect and accountability,” Carlson said, repeating after DePinto.

Carlson’s duties as chief of police went into effect immediately.

After Carlson was sworn in, Thurston County Sheriff John Snaza took to the podium to thank the city council for selecting Carlson.

“I’ve worked with him for many years, way before I was a sheriff,” Snaza said. “I think his commitment and mentorship from Chief Todd Stancil is going to do the city very well, and I’m very encouraged by the progress that has been made by the city council and their selections.”

Carlson has nearly two decades of service under his belt. In an interview with the Nisqually Valley News in July 2020, he spoke on how much it meant to serve the Yelm community.

“We’ve got a great community. We’re very blessed — I’m very blessed — to work in this community, and really to work for the City of Yelm,” Carlson said. “It’s just a good place to work. It is a family atmosphere.”

During that time in July 2020, then Chief of Police Stancil called Carlson the “best fit by far” to take over the position.

Carlson will help usher in the next generation of law enforcement in Yelm. The city council previously stated the city aims to hire more officers. Their goal is to always have two officers on duty at all times.