Lynnwood deputy police chief fired after guilty plea

Published 10:28 pm Wednesday, November 21, 2007

LYNNWOOD — Lynnwood Deputy Police Chief Paul C. Watkins was fired Wednesday, a few days after pleading guilty in federal court to pocketing thousands of dollars seized during criminal investigations.

“This termination stems from the theft of money seized by Lynnwood police officers from 2001 through 2005,” Police Chief Steve Jensen said in a statement.

Watkins pleaded guilty to theft in federal court on Friday. He is scheduled to be sentenced in February. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Watkins worked for Lynn­wood police for 24 years.

Jensen, Watkins and his attorney could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday. Jensen plans a press conference Monday.

Federal prosecutors believe Watkins siphoned at least $95,000 in public funds. Most of the money was stolen while he was the commander of investigations and oversaw the department’s seizure and forfeiture of money and property in criminal cases.

Between 2002 and 2005, federal prosecutors said Watkins took cash from evidence lockers. Instead of returning the money to the owners, he kept it for himself, federal prosecutors said.

The majority of the cash was forfeited to Lynnwood and should have been deposited in the city’s bank account, they said. Some of the money belonged to people arrested during criminal investigations.

Investigators have spoken to a number of those people, some of whom are in jail, and they want their money back.

Watkins “was well respected both in the department, other law enforcement agencies and the community,” Jensen said in a statement. “It was understandably a shock to our employees and many others that he had chosen to engage in repeated instances of criminal misconduct.”

Lynnwood police immediately sought FBI assistance for a comprehensive investigation when they first learned someone might have stolen from the department, Jensen said.

“The city will make all efforts to seek restitution of the funds stolen by Mr. Watkins,” Jensen said. “Mr. Watkins’ actions were his alone. His conduct should not and does not diminish the efforts of the fine men and women of the Lynnwood Police Department who deliver honest and ethical police services to our citizens.”