Lynnwood deputy police chief fired
Published 3:32 pm Wednesday, November 21, 2007
LYNNWOOD – Lynnwood Deputy Police Chief Paul Watkins was fired today, a few days after he entered a guilty plea in federal court to pocketing thousands of dollars seized during criminal investigations, officials said.
“This termination stems from the theft of money seized by Lynnwood police officers from 2001 through 2005,” Lynnwood police Chief Steve Jensen said in a statement issued this afternoon.
Watkins entered his guilty plea in federal court in Seattle on Friday.
Watkins, who worked for Lynnwood police for 24 years, faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 22 in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
