Sequim Police Department conducting internal review on alleged conduct issues

SEQUIM – An internal investigation into allegations of unprofessional conduct at the Sequim Police Department has been under way for 3½ months and is in its final stages, according to Police Chief Robert Spinks

The allegations stem from an off-the-clock, out-of-town incident that occurred in December, Spinks said.

“Potential inappropriate comments may have been exchanged,” he said.

He said the probe has sparked a move to update the Sequim Police Department’s written code of conduct for its officers and other employees.

Spinks declined to specify who is under investigation or the nature of the allegations, citing state law requiring such matters not be made public while an investigation is under way.

“There’s a process. We’ll follow it and whatever the outcome leads us, we’ll take the appropriate action as needed,” he said.

The review began because of allegations of sexual misconduct, but those accusations were not sustained, said Spinks in an e-mail sent to the Peninsula Daily News on Saturday.

While the review found that the sexual harassment allegations were unfounded, “that does not mean that other conduct by one or more employees is not being reviewed at the present time that could involve other potential policy violations,” Spinks wrote.

No police department employees have been disciplined or placed on leave, Spinks said.

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