You’re innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, but in the court of everyday life it’s damaging just to have your name linked with the words "sexual assault."
Sultan Police Chief Fred Walser deserves to get on with his life and his job.
It was hard not to wonder about the timing of the allegations against Walser. Just as the city was headed for a vote on whether to change the form of government from strong mayor to manager-council, sexual allegations were made against the embattled police chief and an investigation followed. It seemed like one more strange story to come out of a growing city that has seen more than its share of strange small-town politics.
News that there wasn’t enough evidence that Walser had done anything wrong and that no criminal charges will be filed was a relief for many, but not a surprise. From the beginning this case seemed off. Still, it deserved a serious and thorough investigation, like any other case, and Walser himself agreed he should be on leave while the work was being completed.
A lack of evidence and doubt surrounding of the accuser’s credibility — she first told officials she was raped and later said Walser touched her inappropriately — left authorities with no choice but to clear the chief.
Walser seems to be getting used to welcome back parties in his honor. This is the second time in less than a year that he’s been off the job and back on again. Last summer Mayor C.H. Rowe asked the chief to resign and then placed him on leave. He was ordered back to work again in September and was met with a big potluck by office staff and local residents.
The two situations are not related. But it’s more than enough for one person to handle in a year, let alone a lifetime. And it’s more than enough for one city to endure. Both deserve a quiet summer and a fresh start.
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