Oak Harbor police chief resigns after investigation by mayor

  • By Jessie Stensland Whidbey News-Times
  • Saturday, May 21, 2016 6:05pm
  • Local News

The Oak Harbor police chief has resigned after the mayor conducted an investigation into problems at the department, interviewed 33 current and former members of the force and concluded that it is “broken.”

Police Chief Ed Green accepted a separation agreement that will award him a severance package, Oak Harbor Mayor Bob Severns said.

“I hope I can help fix the problems,” Severns said. “It’s not going to happen quickly. Some of the problems have been around for a number of years. They festered and got worse.”

Green turned in his badge, gun and car more than a week ago. He could not be reached for comment.

Under the separation agreement, Green agrees not to file a wrongful termination lawsuit. He will receive six months of severance pay, totaling $60,000, and a letter of recommendation from the mayor. The City Council approved the deal on Tuesday.

Police Capt. Teri Gardner has served as acting chief when Green was out of town or away. During previous vacancies, the police captain has taken on the role of acting chief. This time, City Supervisor Doug Merriman will run the department until an outside interim police chief is appointed.

Severns said he has already interviewed four candidates — all from outside the department — for the interim post. Severns said he will immediately begin the process for finding a new police chief; he said he expects the new permanent chief will also be from outside the department.

Green made headlines in the region after he left a gun in a supermarket bathroom, but the mayor’s examination of the department began months before that.

Just after he took office at the beginning of the year, Severns sent out an open invitation to all members of the department to talk with him. In all, 29 of the 37 current employees were interviewed, as were four former employees.

The mayor found a lack of communication within the department caused some of the issues.

“There was absolutely no communication between the chief and the captain,” Severns said. “That results in factions and problems for everyone else.”

His biggest concern, he said, was the possibility of problems in the department jeopardizing public safety.

“The officers said they weren’t sure that their backs would be covered,” he said.

Green was appointed to the office in the fall of 2012 by former Mayor Scott Dudley. Green had been the administrative sergeant at the Port Townsend Police Department; before that, he worked as a cop in Los Angeles.

Green was chief during a time of turmoil and controversy.

Last year, some members of the police union were upset because of a perception that the police administration handled discipline issues in an unfair and biased manner. The concerns came to a head when Green issued Gardner a warning letter for allegedly being dishonest about her romantic relationship with a subordinate officer, whom she later married. Some people felt that the punishment would have been more severe if she was a rank-and-file member of the department.

The union members passed a 16-10 vote of no-confidence against Gardner.

A no-confidence vote was also taken in regard to Green. It failed to pass with 14 people voting against it, 11 voting for it and three abstentions.

Severns said more changes may be coming to the department, but those will be made in consultation with an interim or new police chief.

Jessie Stensland: 360-675-6611, ext. 5056; jstensland@whidbeynewsgroup.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Hundreds rally against Trump on Presidents Day in Everett

People lined Broadway with signs and flags, similar to other protests across the country

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.