SNOHOMISH – Rob Sofie, whose employment as the city’s police chief was terminated June 2, will receive a severance package worth nearly $42,000, City Manager Larry Bauman said Tuesday.
Sofie, hired in 1998 to run the 20-officer police department, will receive his monthly salary, $6,976, for six months after clearing all his paperwork with the city, Bauman said.
Sofie also will receive vision and dental insurance coverage through the end of this month and other medical benefits through July, said Pat Adams, the city’s human resources manager.
The city prepaid $1,150 for those benefits.
The severance package was part of the contract made between former City Manager William McDonald and Sofie in 2000.
“I have really nothing to say about that,” Bauman said.
Bauman, hired in May 2002 after being assistant city manager for Shoreline for about six years, still won’t say why Sofie is no longer the police chief. Bauman’s bosses, the elected City Council members, also aren’t talking.
The city would likely start recruiting for Sofie’s replacement in July, Bauman has said. Meanwhile, Deputy Police Chief Chuck Macklin will serve as interim chief.
Sofie was well-respected among local law enforcement officials, but people around town have said he could be pretty tough on them. Sofie again declined comment Tuesday about his departure from the department, whose 2004 budget is nearly $2.68 million.
The city needs to explain Sofie’s departure, said Kristal Knisley, who has lived in Snohomish for about six years.
“I think there is something very fishy,” said Knisley, 44. “I think they are covering up something.”
Knisley, who has a 17-year-old boy, said that under the helm of Sofie, the police department has shown some rude behavior toward residents, especially youths.
Having a new chief would be good for the city, Knisley said, but it’s too early to move on.
“Citizens have the right to know why the police chief was terminated,” she said. “And I think it’s the duty of (city) council members to officially address the public.”
Councilman Larry Countryman said he learned about Sofie’s departure at the last council meeting. He said the news surprised him, because he thought Sofie was doing a good job.
“Every time I talked to him, he seemed to be sensitive to my concerns,” Countryman said. “I never had a problem with him.”
Reached by phone Tuesday, Councilman Doug Thorndike referred inquiries to Bauman.
“City Council members have no function at all in personnel matters,” he said.
Reporter Katherine Schiffner contributed to this report.
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.
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