City terminates fire captain after threatening emails, improper weapons storage

The City of Spokane fired a fire captain for threatening a lieutenant, keeping metal knuckles in a City-owned vehicle and improperly storing City firearms. An independent investigation determined that Kevin Smathers sent a threatening email to a lieutenant on April 19. “You are a passive aggressive, cowardly little ‘man’ who doesn’t have the guts to do the right thing,” Smathers wrote in the email. Smathers used his personal email account and sent the emails to the lieutenant’s personal account on April 19, admitting that he’d avoided using the City email system because he knew the contents of the email violated City policy, according to the release. Smathers was also keeping metal knuckles in a City vehicle, as well as three City firearms in an unapproved personal safe in Smathers’ City vehicle and his home, according to the release. Smathers is a former member of the fire department’s Special Investigations Unit. He’s been on administrative leave since April 19.