Letter | City should account for hiring officer

Published 1:56 pm Thursday, November 5, 2015

Some weeks ago, I and some other concerned citizens expressed our amazement that Snoqualmie would hire a police officer who had a serious record of excessive use of force complaints. Snoqualmie officials never explained why they would take such a careless risk.

On Oct. 26, the Seattle Times reported in a four-column article that the same officer has now been put on administrative leave and is under investigation by Snoqualmie Police. City officials will not say what the allegations are.

The concern now shifts from the misguided decision to hire this officer in the first place to why there seems to be such reluctance to share details with the citizens. The mayor, who is ultimately responsible to manage this case with reasonable transparency, seems to be missing in action.

The question that still nags at me is why I have to learn from the Seattle Times about a rogue cop patrolling my neighborhood. There would be no story at all had there been responsible, honest management from the start.

The Rev. Jan Larson

North Bend

Note: Snoqualmie officials defended the officer’s hiring in several statements in the Valley Record and other news outlets in July.