Herald staff
The Washington State Patrol intends to discipline a senior Snohomish County command officer for alleged misconduct, but the officer said he will fight the decision.
Lt. Walt Fisch, 58, will be suspended without pay for 10 days, according to a State Patrol decision. Fisch on Wednesday said he will take that decision to an agency trial board.
Fisch and the department declined to comment on the nature of the allegation, which in September resulted in Fisch being placed on paid leave for about a week.
The officer doubled as the agency spokesman for District 7, which includes Snohomish, Island, Skagit and Whatcom counties, until the issue arose last month.
Fisch has served nearly 35 years on the force and intends to retire in about 90 days. He said he doesn’t want to quit with a blemish on his record.
The procedure for a trial board is established in state law. Two State Patrol captains and a lieutenant will hear evidence about the allegation.
Capt. Eric Robertson, the agency’s spokesman in Olympia, confirmed the decision to suspend Fisch. On Wednesday, Robertson also declined to reveal any specifics about the case.
Fisch has served two tours of duty in Snohomish County, the latest starting in March 1993. He was in King County for nine years, and became a sergeant in 1974 when he was assigned to a detachment in Wenatchee. He also had a stint in Olympia working in the Office of Professional Standards, reviewing disciplinary actions.
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