Spokane7
59°
October 4, 2011 in City
Detective alleges witness tampering in civil suit against the city
A Spokane police detective has filed a formal complaint asking the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office to investigate allegations that Chief Anne Kirkpatrick and city attorneys have engaged in felony witness tampering.
Detective Jay Mehring filed the complaint with the sheriff’s office Sunday, alleging that the city refused to renew a contract with the department’s longtime psychologist after she gave an opinion favorable to Mehring as part of his $3.5 million civil suit against the city. That suit alleges he was wrongfully terminated in 2007 amid reports that he threatened to harm his wife.
City spokeswoman Marlene Feist said Tuesday that the city denies any allegation of witness tampering.
“These allegations are serious, and the court will make the final ruling about their inclusion in the case,” Feist said. “In the meantime, we are very concerned that our employees are being defamed and depicted in a false light.”
Mehring, 43, has been on paid leave since Sept. 9, 2010. In his complaint, Mehring said police psychologist Dr. Deanette Palmer’s contract wasn’t renewed after she ruled that he was fit to return to duty.
“Dr. Palmer has been intimidated and punished for voicing her professional opinion of Detective Mehring which happened to be in contradiction to the agenda of the Chief and the City Attorney’s Office,” Mehring said in the complaint.
Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said via e-mail that he is reviewing the matter.
Palmer told attorneys in a sworn deposition that she had been the department’s psychologist for the past 22 years. Her full-time employment status changed to contract status six years ago, and she helped counsel officers after high-stress situations such as police shootings.
According to the complaint, she had been talking with Assistant City Attorney Rocky Treppiedi about a new contract when those conversations halted without explanation last April.
“All that I’m aware of is that, because of my involvement in Mr. Mehring’s case, there is question about whether or not it will be renewed as per the City Attorney’s office,” Palmer was quoted as saying during an Aug. 29 deposition.
Asked by attorney Susan Nelson whether Palmer believed her involvement in the lawsuit has “adversely affected” her contract with the city, Palmer said, “Definitely.”
Attorney Bob Dunn, who is representing Mehring, said the city’s handling of Palmer “adds to the notion that we have believed all along, that Detective Mehring has been subjected to a campaign of retaliatory misconduct.”
The legal posturing is the latest twist in a case that began in early 2007 when two police sergeants said Mehring had threatened to burn down his estranged wife’s home with her in it. The department charged Mehring with a felony and placed him on unpaid leave for 569 days.
His now ex-wife, Lisa Mehring, said in court documents that the case was blown out of proportion and that she and Jay Mehring were “victims of overzealous law enforcement, domestic violence laws and the legal system.”
The case went to trial and a jury acquitted Mehring in October 2008 of all charges. Kirkpatrick reinstated him with $134,000 in back pay, but demoted him.
Mehring, who earned $80,639 last year, filed a $3.5 million claim against the city last year for its handling of the case.
In court filings, Kirkpatrick defended her personnel decisions.
The case was further complicated on Sept. 9, 2010, when Mehring — who was on duty at the time — attended a deposition with Kirkpatrick wearing his service pistol. Kirkpatrick inquired about the gun, asked for a recess and immediately suspended Mehring under allegations that he was not fit for duty based on files in the lawsuit indicating that he had been treated for stress.
Later, Palmer examined Mehring as part of her city contract and deemed him fit for duty, which is what caused the city to end her contract, Dunn and Mehring allege.
“It hasn’t let up from the day the investigation started,” Dunn said. “It’s another step in the retaliatory process … based on some agenda the police chief has.”
Feist, the city spokeswoman, noted that Mehring’s complaint “comes two weeks before trial in Mr. Mehring’s civil lawsuit against the city and the police chief.”
1992 murder trial begins against sex offender 
Squid on October 04 at 6:09 p.m.
I still have complete trust for the SPD.
sean96 on October 04 at 6:13 p.m.
Would that be officer Squid? I would not put it passed he to witness tamper. She has an adams apple for christ’s sake.
TVKnobs on October 04 at 6:16 p.m.
Well, hope that your car doesn’t get stolen or your property stolen from your home, because the SPD doesn’t really put any effort into solving those crimes any more.
The_Seer on October 04 at 6:36 p.m.
tvknobs: My care was stolen last summer and I got it back within twelve hours. It wasn’t the po po who found it though, just an alert citizen who noticed a strange car parked in front of his house. So maybe you are right…
As for this story: It just goes on and on. I’ve always known Spokane was kinda mobbed up (remember how the Waste To Energy plant was shoved down our throats despite a vote against building it?) but even I am shocked at how deep the infection has invaded almost every public sphere.
Squid on October 04 at 6:55 p.m.
Sargent Steven Squid. Internal Affairs and public relations spokesperson.
If you have any questions about SPD matters, I’d be happy to answer to the best of my ability.
brianrbreen on October 04 at 7:02 p.m.
It’s important to remember however that Chief Anne Kirkpatrick has given Officer Karl Thompson her “unequivocal” support, and that based on all of the information and evidence she reviewed she determined that “Officer Karl Thompson acted consistent with the law”.
I guess if you are not one of the golden boys the Chief and Rocco will try and get your arse.
brianrbreen on October 04 at 7:27 p.m.
@MarleneFiest
“In the meantime, we are very concerned that our employees are being defamed and depicted in a false light.”
Are you saying in your statement above that Dr. Palmer is defaming and depicting your employees in a false light? Apparently Dr Palmer is the one that gave the deposition, not Mehring. Or do you mean that rotten Mehring is the one defaming your employees. I guess you could mean that you are concerned that Mehring who is a city employee was defamed and depicted in a false light. Just not sure what you mean.
brianrbreen on October 04 at 7:42 p.m.
Boy talk about “Stress”, if the Chief can’t even sit through a simple deposition with one of her armed officers, can you imagine how stressful it is for her to show for work and be in the same building with all those nutty armed cops. No wonder she is leaving, too much stress. :)
SpokyDaBear on October 04 at 7:43 p.m.
Maybe Mayor “No Comment” Verner will say something now?
Dazzeetrader11 on October 04 at 7:46 p.m.
More fun……..I wonder how much of this will go on. Amazing what happens when nobody knows…….or at least when someone THINKS we don’t know.
Terrible performance of law enforcement. Of course Bob Dunn is known for creating some issues and twisting them to get a big judgement.
Who knows anymore……..???
GaryP on October 04 at 7:46 p.m.
Hold the phone!!! Treppiedi and Chief Kirkpatrick have been intimidating witnesses!!!!?They wouldn’t do such a thing. Just look at how the city has handled Zehm with above board transparency. Wait a minute….Of course they have been intimidating witnesses!!!!!
brianrbreen on October 04 at 7:46 p.m.
Nope, too much stress.
GaryP on October 04 at 7:48 p.m.
The city mishandles Zehm and then blatantly overreacts on everything else. I hope Mehring gets 20 million right from Kirkpatricks pocket book.
Slightlyworried on October 04 at 7:57 p.m.
If all of the recent events involving SPD, SCSO, and Steve Tucker were a documentary movie no one would believe it.
brianrbreen on October 04 at 8:00 p.m.
Anyone remember when Chief Kirkpatrick got on the witness stand in the Mehring trial and adamantly denied that she had threatened any of the officers testifying for Mehring’s defense. If I recall correctly it was all just a big misunderstanding according to Kirkpatrick.
Sunshinegurl on October 04 at 8:33 p.m.
Employers have a responsibility to make the workplace safe, I would think this is even more true when your employee is armed and claiming he is under emotional distress. I think this psychologist is just upset she lost her contract and is leaching herself to the nearest sympathizer. If SPD behavior and antics are any indication of what she finds acceptable then it was time for her to go.
D Statler on October 04 at 9:11 p.m.
Witness tampering is legal for detectives when they are advising what they could do or charge you with. This really isn’t threatening witnesses with charges is it Detective Marske? Spokane has some of the most corrupt detectives in the country. Too bad our detectives and prosecutors were not like the honest ones we watch on TV. We are still paying to house three innocent young men in prison after three years for these felonious actions Spokane’s detectives committed.
Try talking to the states witness and see what happens to you.Our legal justice system has failed to correct itself. Legal justice and moral justice are not the same in Spokane are they Judge Eitzen? Thanks for everything you could have done your honor.
D Statler on October 04 at 9:16 p.m.
“These buys are victims of the perfect storm of procedural misconduct” Thanks Your Honor , We are still paying for your decision to levy sanctions instead of dismiss. :^(
Ron_the_Cop on October 04 at 9:34 p.m.
The_Seer,
If you only knew;-) William Barret of Forbes Magazine in his first column casting Spokane as the scam capitol of America, there is a comment that Spokane is a cesspool. http://tinyurl.com/cnk2kz
GaryP on October 04 at 9:36 p.m.
Marlene Feist “In the meantime, we are very concerned that our employees are being defamed and depicted in a false light.” You should know since that’s exactly what you did to Det. Mehring which is why you’re getting sued to begin with…
jddavis on October 04 at 10:47 p.m.
Better get out your umbrellas! The crap is starting to fall faster!
valleyman on October 04 at 11:13 p.m.
I’m taking up a collection for a shovel… Anyone interested, let me know… I’ll be sending it Fed-Ex to Mayor Verner’s Office with instructions to pass it on to Kirkpatrick once she’s done… oh wait… they’re both almost done…
Dazzeetrader11 on October 04 at 11:51 p.m.
Play with the pigs, you will get dirty.
Ron_the_Cop on October 05 at 12:11 a.m.
There is a newer version of this story with a new comment thread:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/oct/05/spokane-police-detective-alleges-witness-tering/