Women asked to keep comments private

MEDICAL LAKE – A resident who wanted to complain in public to the City Council about a police sergeant accused by a city employee of sexual misconduct didn’t get her chance Tuesday.

Cathy Litts was told by City Attorney Cynthia McMullen that her complaint against Sgt. Joe Mehrens would be better heard in private. Mehrens is on paid administrative leave after a city employee filed a criminal complaint with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office alleging Mehrens touched her breast while wiping juice off her shirt, according to news reports. The employee filed a restraining order against Mehrens on Aug. 21 and a sheriff’s detective has recommended he be charged with fourth-degree assault with sexual motivations, a gross misdemeanor. Initial complaints against Mehrens were made in April.

Mehrens denied that the incident happened and the case has been turned over to a prosecutor to make a decision.

At Tuesday’s council meeting, Litts asked if she could make a comment about Mehrens paid administrative leave, which she called a “paid vacation.” McMullen said it would be inappropriate for her to discuss the issue before council since the matter is still pending.

McMullen suggested that Litts have a private conversation about Mehrens with either Mayor John Higgins or City Administrator Doug Ross.

“They city is not making any more statements,” McMullen said.

Mehrens had been serving as the city’s interim police chief from Jan. 9 until Aug. 3.

“I guess I don’t have anything further,” Litts told the council before she stepped down from the podium.

In other news, council members discussed the city’s requirement that all department heads live within city limits. The reason for the discussion was to see whether it would be a good idea to find a police chief who is qualified but doesn’t live in the city.

“I like to have our people live in town,” council member Howard Jorgenson said. He said that in the past the city has “bent over backwards to give people a fair amount of time” to get their affairs in order and find a home in Medical Lake.

“I disagree,” said council member Shirley Maike. “I think we need to look at the best people we can find,” she said, adding the city should make a decision about the residency requirement on a case-by-case basis.

Council member Jeff King said that if the city finds a qualified candidate, but the residency is a deal-breaker with the candidate, then the council should discuss the matter.

The council made no decision on the matter.

The next regular City Council meeting will be Oct. 7.