By Katherine Schiffner
Herald Writer
MONROE — Monroe’s former police chief won’t rejoin the department she ran for nine years, and in return will receive almost $146,000 in severance pay from the city under an agreement announced Thursday.
Colleen Wilson, the state’s first female police chief, has retired from the department and accepted a job managing the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission’s officer certification program.
"I’m glad we were able to come to a conclusion everybody is comfortable with," she said Thursday. "I think I’ve served the city well. If the leadership wants me to move on, I’m OK with that."
Monroe Mayor Donnetta Walser asked Wilson to step down April 2 and placed Wilson on administrative leave. She then offered her the chance to stay with the department in a lesser role, but later said she felt Wilson should not return.
Walser was out of the office Thursday and could not be reached for comment, but released a statement that praised Wilson’s community involvement and professional accomplishments.
Wilson said the mayor hasn’t explained her decision except to say that it was not a disciplinary move.
"From what I understand, the mayor simply felt that it was time for a change," she said.
Wilson had initially said she wanted to return to the department as a lieutenant, her rank prior to becoming police chief.
"I was under the impression (returning to the department) would be acceptable at the time I said that," Wilson explained. "I did not understand at the time the mayor did not want me there."
Wilson said she received a memo from the mayor shortly after she was asked to step down offering her a job as a sergeant, saying that the former chief "could continue to be an important part of the department."
The mayor later said she felt it wasn’t in the best interest of the department to have Wilson return in any capacity.
Under an agreement approved by the Monroe City Council Wednesday, the city will pay Wilson a year’s salary, $88,260. The city will also pay her $48,426 in a sick leave buyout and $9,240 in a vacation time buyout. In addition, the city will pay Wilson $5,000 for attorney’s fees.
Wilson declined to speak about the specifics of the agreement, which includes a provision prohibiting Wilson and the city from making disparaging statements about each other regarding Wilson’s employment relationship with the city.
Wilson said she is proud of her work at the police department she joined in 1977, and of the officers who work there. But she said she’s excited to begin working for the state Criminal Justice Training Commission. She starts June 3.
Wilson served on the commission’s board for eight years, and worked as its chairwoman from 1996 to 2000.
Wilson said she and her husband plan to stay in Monroe.
Tim Quenzer, a former Washington State Patrol assistant chief, is the police department’s interim chief. He said Thursday that he had not seen a copy of the agreement with Wilson, and declined to comment about it.
Department spokeswoman Cmdr. Jan O’Neil also declined to discuss the agreement, and referred questions about it to the mayor.
You can call Herald Writer Katherine Schiffner at 425-339-3436 or send e-mail to schiffner@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
