Post by WaTcHeR on Nov 29, 2006 11:00:33 GMT -5
11.29.2006 - A Seattle police officer is on leave after his wife's parents called police saying that they heard him threaten to burn down the couple's home during an argument.
Thurston County sheriff's deputies arrested the officer, at his home south of Lacey, but he has since been released from custody.
The patrolman was booked into the Thurston County Jail on suspicion of felony harassment, and the Sheriff's Office also is referring charges of malicious mischief to the Thurston County Prosecutor's Office, but the officer has not yet been charged.
Thurston County sheriff's Capt. Jim Chamberlain, who supervises detectives, said there were no allegations that the officer physically assaulted his wife.
Seattle police spokeswoman Debra Brown confirmed Tuesday that the patrol officer, who works in the Southwest Precinct, was on paid leave. Thurston County deputies took the officer's gun and badge, which were picked up by Seattle police. He also volunteered to turn over his personal weapons, Chamberlain said. The officer did not have his gun on him when the argument started, he said.
The trouble reportedly began Sunday afternoon over the couple's pending divorce. During the ensuing argument, he allegedly broke a chair and a clock and threatened to burn down the couple's home. At the time, his wife was on the phone with her parents in Idaho, who heard the threat and called police about 3:30 p.m., Chamberlain said.
The officer denied making the threat, although he cooperated with the deputies, the captain said.
The wife was reluctant to talk with deputies about what happened, he said.
"Initially, she said she didn't want to get him into trouble and that she wasn't sure we would believe her because he was a cop," Chamberlain said. "We assured her that we didn't care what he did for a living."
As required by protocol for officer-involved domestic violence, sheriff's deputies summoned a supervisor to the scene and immediately notified the Seattle Police Department.
For the past four years, Seattle police have worked under an established policy regarding domestic-violence incidents involving department employees.
The policy requires officers to surrender their duty weapon, badge and department identification only if they are arrested for domestic violence. If there is not an arrest, the on-scene commander makes the decision.
Sam Pailca, director of the Officer of Professional Accountability, said policy dictates that her department investigates all reports of domestic violence involving a Seattle police employee.
If the arresting agency does not notify Seattle police of the incident, the officer involved is required to report it.
The OPA immediately designates a liaison to work with that agency and follow the case through the criminal proceedings. OPA officials and Seattle police managers then meet to discuss the status of the officer's employment with the department, Pailca said. Such a meeting was to have taken place Tuesday morning, but was postponed because of the weather.
The agency can also begin to investigate the matter on its own. The OPA investigator reviewing the matter will often attend court proceedings and collect the court documents as part of the internal investigation, she said.
"We try to stay active and engaged even while that process is running its course," Pailca said.
seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/294005_copdv29.html
Thurston County sheriff's deputies arrested the officer, at his home south of Lacey, but he has since been released from custody.
The patrolman was booked into the Thurston County Jail on suspicion of felony harassment, and the Sheriff's Office also is referring charges of malicious mischief to the Thurston County Prosecutor's Office, but the officer has not yet been charged.
Thurston County sheriff's Capt. Jim Chamberlain, who supervises detectives, said there were no allegations that the officer physically assaulted his wife.
Seattle police spokeswoman Debra Brown confirmed Tuesday that the patrol officer, who works in the Southwest Precinct, was on paid leave. Thurston County deputies took the officer's gun and badge, which were picked up by Seattle police. He also volunteered to turn over his personal weapons, Chamberlain said. The officer did not have his gun on him when the argument started, he said.
The trouble reportedly began Sunday afternoon over the couple's pending divorce. During the ensuing argument, he allegedly broke a chair and a clock and threatened to burn down the couple's home. At the time, his wife was on the phone with her parents in Idaho, who heard the threat and called police about 3:30 p.m., Chamberlain said.
The officer denied making the threat, although he cooperated with the deputies, the captain said.
The wife was reluctant to talk with deputies about what happened, he said.
"Initially, she said she didn't want to get him into trouble and that she wasn't sure we would believe her because he was a cop," Chamberlain said. "We assured her that we didn't care what he did for a living."
As required by protocol for officer-involved domestic violence, sheriff's deputies summoned a supervisor to the scene and immediately notified the Seattle Police Department.
For the past four years, Seattle police have worked under an established policy regarding domestic-violence incidents involving department employees.
The policy requires officers to surrender their duty weapon, badge and department identification only if they are arrested for domestic violence. If there is not an arrest, the on-scene commander makes the decision.
Sam Pailca, director of the Officer of Professional Accountability, said policy dictates that her department investigates all reports of domestic violence involving a Seattle police employee.
If the arresting agency does not notify Seattle police of the incident, the officer involved is required to report it.
The OPA immediately designates a liaison to work with that agency and follow the case through the criminal proceedings. OPA officials and Seattle police managers then meet to discuss the status of the officer's employment with the department, Pailca said. Such a meeting was to have taken place Tuesday morning, but was postponed because of the weather.
The agency can also begin to investigate the matter on its own. The OPA investigator reviewing the matter will often attend court proceedings and collect the court documents as part of the internal investigation, she said.
"We try to stay active and engaged even while that process is running its course," Pailca said.
seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/294005_copdv29.html