Community Government Police & Fire

City introduces four finalists for police chief post

All four finalists for Gig Harbor’s police chief position have local ties, and all of them have great things to say about the community and its police department. 

The city announced the four finalists at a well-attended open house on Thursday, Sept. 4. At least 100 community members turned out to query the four finalists and learn about the city’s process for hiring a permanent replacement for retired chief Kelly Busey. 

The finalists are: 

• Tray Federici, the city’s current interim chief and a veteran Gig Harbor officer. 
• James Mjor, a Washington State Patrol assistant chief and Kitsap County resident. 
• Dan Schoonmaker, a former Poulsbo police chief and Port Orchard assistant chief. 
• Tom Yabe, the chief of police in nearby Steilacoom. 

Finalists for the Gig Harbor police chief position address an open house at the Civic Center on Thursday, Sept. 4. They are, from left, Tom Yabe, chief of police in Steilacoom; Dan Schoonmaker, a former Poulsbo police chief; Justin Doll, with recruiting firm Public Sector Search & Consulting; Jame Mjor, a Washington State Patrol assistant chief; and Tray Federici, the interim chief at Gig Harbor. Photo by Vince Dice

City seeks feedback

Mayor Mary Barber told the crowd that the city expects to decide on a new chief “probably in the next few weeks.” 

However, she added that “it’s really crucial to us that we make the right decision. So if it takes more time, it takes more time. We appreciate your patience.” 

The city posted a survey where attendees and other city residents can provide feedback on the finalists. The survey asks for impressions about all four candidates, and if any of the four stood out.  

“We believe that community policing is an attitude that comes from the top,” Barber said. “So your input in this process is crucial.” 

Tray Federici

Federici has worked in law enforcement since 2002 and joined the Gig Harbor Police Department in 2016. He served in every level of the local department since then and was a lieutenant, part of the three-person command staff, before becoming interim chief. 

He previously worked in South Carolina, Florida and Colorado. Federici became familiar with Gig Harbor while serving in the U.S. Coast Guard reserve. 

“The relationship between law enforcement and the community (in Gig Harbor) is better than any I’ve ever seen. And I’ve been around a bit,” said Federici, who comes from a law enforcement family, including several relatives currently or formerly with the New York Police Department. 

Gig Harbor Interim Chief Tray Federici during an open house at the Civic Center on Thursday, Sept. 4. Photo by Vince Dice

James Mjor 

Mjor has served in several roles during a 27-year Washington State Patrol career. One of four WSP assistant chiefs, Mjor is responsible for the patrol’s Field Operations Bureau. 

He previously commanded Bremerton-based District 8 of the State Patrol, which covers Kitsap, Mason, Jefferson, Clallam and Grays Harbor counties. Before joining the patrol, Mjor was a Navy Seal. 

He graduated from Central Kitsap High School in Silverdale and is a board member of the Kitsap County Fair and Stampede. 

“You have an amazing police department … they are just as committed to finding the right person and advancing the agency,” Mjor said. 

Washington State Patrol Assistant Chief James Mjor (left) speaks during an open house on Thursday, Sept. 4. Photo by Vince Dice

Dan Schoonmaker 

Schoonmaker spent much of his law enforcement career in the Orange County, Calif., community of Westminster before Poulsbo hired him as chief in 2016. He later served as that city’s parks director and as an assistant chief in Port Orchard, working for a former colleague. 

He is currently a law enforcement consultant and the head football coach at Bainbridge High School. 

Schoonmaker said he was drawn to apply for the job because of the department’s reputation, and the community’s. 

“I wasn’t necessarily looking to get back into law enforcement,” Schoonmaker said. “I saw this posting and said, ‘I’ve got to take a shot or I’m going to regret it.’ ” 

Dan Schoonmaker, a former Poulsbo police chief and a finalist for the Gig Harbor police chief job, speaks at a town hall on Thursday, Sept. 4. Photo by Vince Dice

Tom Yabe 

Yabe has been chief of police in Steilacoom for five years. His entire 20-year career in law enforcement has been in that town. 

After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Yabe set out to pursue a firefighting career. He ended up in Steilacoom because at the time it had a joint police and fire department. But he gravitated toward law enforcement, though he has been trained as an emergency medical technician and firefighter. 

He said he was drawn to the Gig Harbor job because of its similarities to Steilacoom. 

“Gig Harbor is a wonderful community with a wonderful police department and wonderful community attitude towards the police department,” Yabe said. “Gig Harbor is the only place I’ve applied.” 

Tom Yabe, the chief of police in Steilacoom and a finalist for the same job in Gig Harbor, during an open house on Thursday, Sept. 4. Photo by Vince Dice