Police officer returning to work Thursday after suspension

Published 12:45 pm Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Snoqualmie Police Officer Nick Hogan, was put on a 20-day unpaid leave Jan. 29, reportedly for sexually explicit text messages he sent to another department employee while on duty. He is scheduled to return to duty March 10.

Snoqualmie Police Captain Nick Almquist explained that Hogan was not disciplined for having an extramarital affair with the wife of another Snoqualmie Police officer, but for “sexting.”

“He was engaged in sexting while on duty, exchanging sexually explicit text messages, where he shared nude or partially nude photos of himself to a police volunteer who was married to a Snoqualmie police officer,” Almquist said. “He had an extramarital relationship with a volunteer, but the consensual relationship he had occurred off duty, not on duty.”

Hogan drew a spotlight last summer when news that he was fired after being named in two lawsuits at his former employer, the Tukwila Police Department, broke. Since he was hired to the Snoqualmie Department in February, 2014, the department has not received any complaints about Hogan and excessive force, said Almquist.

However, Hogan was put on paid, administrative leave in October, 2015, “based on recent allegations of misconduct related to the performance of (his) duties, violations of city policy and procedure,” according to a letter Snoqualmie Police Chief Steve McCulley wrote to Hogan.

Snoqualmie officials released an FAQ March 4, stating that Hogan’s 20-day leave was the “legally appropriate discipline.” The city also stated that the conduct that Hogan was suspended for did not justify termination of his position.

Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson expressed his disappointment with Hogan’s actions and explained that he served Hogan the strongest disciplinary action he could.

“I am very disappointed about his actions and decisions that he made. What has been the gravest concern for me has been the impact on the morale of the department and the officers in general. It’s probably been more amplified because these guys have worked so hard to make sure to really raise the bar on the integrity and reputation of the department,” he said. “We consulted with attorneys… to determine the most appropriate discipline in this situation that will stick and not be challenged. In this case I chose to apply the most heavy penalty I felt I could. This had such an impact on the morale of the department, it’s unacceptable. I fully expect that when Officer Hogan gets back that he will conduct himself in a very professional manner.”

Almquist said that new officers are placed on probation for one year after they are hired. During an officer’s probation, he or she can be let go without cause. After that period, removing an officer becomes more difficult because they are protected by their union contract. Hogan, hired Feb. 10, 2014, is past his probation period.

The decision to hire Hogan came before any of the allegations had been legally concluded in Tukwila, Larson said. He also noted that Snoqualmie Officer Richard Cary had served with Hogan in the Iraq war and spoke positively of him.

Hogan’s 20-day absence has had an effect on Snoqualmie’s understaffing problem. There are currently three vacancies in the department.

“We have already been low staffing as it is. Everyone has been on mandatory 12-hour shifts, but him being gone hasn’t completely added to the reason we are on mandatory 12-hour shifts,” Almquist said.

The police department is in the midst of recruiting new officers. Almquist said the department has made two conditional job offers and will be testing 16 entry level candidates for the third opening this week.

“We do a pretty rigorous process and we are going to take a look at tightening that further,” Larson said. “We had an all hands on deck meeting at the police department. One piece of feedback I liked was that the officers requested they be involved at some point in the hiring process. So they could do some vetting for candidates… to see if they fit the culture of the department.”

Larson takes responsibility for the initial hiring of Hogan and said he does not want the public’s regard for police to diminish.

“I take responsibility for that decision and if there was any concern from the public I would ask that they not cast aspersions on the good folks working in that department. I certainly commit that we will be more rigorous in our hiring in the future,” he said.