City terminates officer following federal charges
Published 8:30 am Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Nick Hogan, a Snoqualmie Police officer hired in 2014, is no longer working for the city. Snoqualmie officials have not commented on the August termination, nor on the events of recent months regarding his administrative leave and return to duty.
Hogan had been on administrative leave since May, when he was indicted in federal court for an incident of excessive force; he was then an officer with the Tukwila Police Department. He had also been put on leave in January, for allegedly “sexting” with another officer’s wife, while on duty, but had returned to duty March 10.
Hogan drew attention in 2015 after news broke of his involvement in two different excessive force incidents, also while he was at the Tukwila Police Department.
In March, Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson told the Valley Record the decision to hire Hogan came before the allegations of excessive force in Tukwila had been legally concluded. Another Snoqualmie officer had previously served with Hogan in the Iraq War and had positive things to say about him, Larson explained.
On May 19, Hogan was charged in federal court with civil rights violations stemming from a 2011 incident of alleged excessive force. He was put on paid leave with no defined end date.
As part of his court imposed restrictions, Hogan was denied possession of a firearm. Wayne Fricke, one of Hogan’s attorneys, filed a motion with the court to allow him access to a firearm so that he could return to work as a police officer.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian Tsuchida initially refused the motion but then reversed his decision after finding an exception in the law for police officers, Fricke explained.
“There is a particular provision, but it didn’t apply to (Hogan),” Fricke told the Valley Record. “It was just a situation where it wasn’t overturned by the judge… he was allowed to carry his service revolver while on duty.”
However, Hogan did not return to work. On Aug. 17, Fricke said “He’s not actively on duty. That much I can tell.”
City officials have declined to comment on the reasons for Hogan’s termination.
Originially scheduled for the beginning of August, Hogan’s trial date was moved to Dec. 5 due to scheduling conflicts, Fricke said.
