The City of Palouse recently fired its longtime police chief after an investigation found evidence he had failed to respond to a 911 call, claimed overtime pay for callouts he did not respond to in person and issued concealed pistol licenses without completing proper background checks.
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Resignations, ballot boxes and COVID-19: Our most-read and impactful stories of 2020
As we did last year, we again want to review some of our more impactful reporting from the past 12 (long) months and share some operational background for transparency. Our local coverage found a wider audience this year as other regional news media picked up on stories we first published here.
Former accountant files lawsuit against Pullman for alleged disability discrimination
Former city accountant Colleen Lenz filed her complaint on Sept. 10, accusing Pullman officials of abruptly firing her after more than two years on the job because she sought medical leave for intense migraines.
Colfax settlement over police chief’s firing includes resignation, $435,000 payment
The agreement settled the approximately 18-month battle over Rick McNannay’s disputed termination in January of 2019 that resulted in his reinstatement last summer. Former Mayor Todd Vanek had fired McNannay over hiring practices from 2016. McNannay alleged his termination was retaliation for pushing back on budget limitations.
Colfax City Hall called ‘dysfunction junction’ amid allegations of lying, mismanagement
Public email records and civil service filings reveal a culture of distrust at Colfax City Hall that has resulted in repeated accusations of lying, mismanagement, budget errors and retaliation throughout the past two years. “It’s just dysfunction junction,” one former employee said.
Colfax police chief reinstated with back pay, no word on potential appeal from city
The Colfax Civil Service Commission on Tuesday reinstated recently fired Police Chief Rick McNannay with back pay following a confrontational hearing in which the city’s attorney accused the commission chair of bias.
Civil Service board questions demotion of Colfax police chief amid appeal arguments
The board expressed frustration with the city’s attempt to reset the appeal process around demotion with Commissioner Rob Aucutt saying most of the work had focused on the matter of termination. They voted to continue on schedule for a trial on July 29 to evaluate whether the city had grounds for demotion. “There’s a lot of pieces in this puzzle,” Aucutt said.
County deputies to again answer some Colfax police calls after officer resigns
Colfax Police Officer Joe Handley resigned late last month, leaving the five-person department with two full-time officers and one temporary officer now working full-time. Handley confirmed he had “resigned in good standing.”
Third-party report, Civil Service appeal letter detail Colfax police chief termination dispute
Emails show the mayor tried to remove Police Chief Rick McNannay last May. Attorneys for McNannay released a 12-page Feb. 6 appeal letter challenging the city’s investigation and alleging the mayor ultimately terminated the chief for political reasons. City officials also released a nine-page Dec. 19 investigation report.
Fired Colfax police chief makes case he checked practices, acted in good faith
In a meeting with reporters Thursday, Rick McNannay passed around a binder of event timelines, email threads and personnel records detailing his handling of the hires in question from the fall of 2016. “I’ve got nothing to hide,” he said. “I’m transparent.”