MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — Two Mountlake Terrace police officers have been disciplined after one, then president of the police association, loaned $5,000 of association funds to the other, who was vice president of the association.
“As a result of the loan coming to the attention of the police association membership, an internal investigation was conducted by an outside agency,” Mountlake Terrace Police Chief Scott Smith said. The investigation found that while the officers didn’t break any laws or association rules and didn’t involve public funds, the loan was inappropriate Smith said.
Several police department members are upset about the loan, which was made without prior discussion or approval by association members.
The Mountlake Terrace Police Officers Association is a private fund in which department staff each voluntarily contribute $7 a month. The fund has one section used for items such as coffee and office parties and a second which is used as a scholarship fund. The loan to the officer came from scholarship portion of the fund.
The fund is also in place as a benevolence fund for charities or to help police families in the case of a lost officer. A similar loan for $1,000 had been made in the past, Smith said, adding that it was paid back and he didn’t recall hearing complaints.
Along with the discipline, which Smith wouldn’t specify, the two officers no longer hold positions on the association board. Also, the association has hired an attorney to update its bylaws and create procedures to deal with both funds.
The money, which was loaned in February, according to Smith, hasn’t been paid back as of yet. Smith said there is a plan in place for the officer to pay back the loan before the end of the year.
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