SULTAN – The battle between the city of Sultan and its police chief is headed to court.
Police Chief Fred Walser is taking legal action against the city’s Civil Service Commission, alleging improper handling of a dispute over whether he must be forced to leave.
The commission failed on a number of counts to properly handle Walser’s appeal to be reinstated as chief while the city investigates him for alleged wrongdoing, according to a complaint filed July 27 in Superior Court.
“We’re asking the court to review what the civil service commission failed to do,” said J.C. Becker, Walser’s attorney.
In May, Walser, 66, the city’s police chief for nearly a dozen years, announced plans to retire.
A few weeks later Walser was placed on administrative leave. City officials said Walser is being investigated as part of two probes into allegations of wrongdoing at the police department.
Walser tried to rescind his resignation, scheduled for Aug. 17, until after the investigations were complete. City officials said no.
Walser appealed to the city’s Civil Service Commission, an independent, three-person board that typically acts as an intermediary between sworn police officers and city officials.
The commission denied Walser a hearing, Becker said.
Calls to commission members were not immediately returned.
Sultan Mayor Ben Tolson declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigations.
Tolson did say that the commission was made up of people recommended by Walser.
“They aren’t people with issues to grind,” Tolson said.
The commission did not take up Walser’s appeal within the 10-day period required, according to the legal challenge. It asks that a judge review the commission’s handling of the case.
The commission apparently met in one of its member’s homes without public notice and without giving Walser a proper hearing, according to court papers.
Becker said it may take as long as six months for the case to be decided.
Meanwhile, Walser, a longtime resident of Monroe, is considering a run for state senate against Republican Val Stevens.
He’s trying to put problems with Sultan behind him, Becker said.
“We want to review the record and reinstate him to the position as police chief so he can clear his name,” Becker said. “We’re not asking to stop the investigation, just asking that he can get a hearing to clear his name.”
Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437 or jholtz@heraldnet.com.
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