Spokane officer suspended following probe

A Spokane Police officer has been suspended for two months without pay and has been given a “last chance agreement” after the department determined he had been associating with a woman who had been engaging in prostitution, drugs and burglary. Police Chief Frank Straub announced the policy violations and discipline of Officer Darrell Quarles in a news release today. “As the chief of the Spokane Police Department, it is my obligation to hold all employees, police officers and civilians to the highest ethical and professional standards. Unethical and unprofessional conduct is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Straub said in the release. The internal investigation into Quarles began on May 7. It determined that, while off duty, Quarles had associated with a woman who used meth, and was involved in prostitution and burglary, and that he knew of her criminal activities. The officer also violated department policy by conducting an unauthorized search of department records to check on the status of the criminal investigation into the woman, who was not named, the news release stated. In addition to 60 days suspension without pay or benefits, Quarles will not be allowed to work without direct supervision, and he must participate in specific community service assignments, the release said.