Lynnwood hires lawyer after questions about police dealings with camera company
Published 5:40 pm Wednesday, August 24, 2011
LYNNWOOD — The city of Lynnwood has hired an outside attorney after questions were raised into how Lynnwood police officers were dealing with American Traffic Solutions. That’s the Arizona company that operates traffic-enforcement cameras in the city.
Lynnwood hired lawyer Patricia Eakes, with Seattle law firm Yarmuth Wilsdon Calfo.
Eakes confirmed Wednesday evening that the city had hired her earlier that day, but she couldn’t discuss why. Eakes’ profile on the firm’s website says her work focuses on “white-collar criminal defense and complex civil litigation.”
After-hours calls and emails to Lynnwood Mayor Don Gough and others in his office weren’t immediately returned Wednesday.
The Herald on Aug. 18 reported that emails showed a deputy police chief and a traffic unit sergeant may have crossed ethical and legal lines in their dealings with the camera company. Police Chief Steve Jensen said their correspondence was “not smart,” but he didn’t think any overt wrongdoing had occurred. He said he asked Everett police to conduct an internal investigation.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com
