Chief Demotes Top Assistant After Dui Arrest Peffer ‘Disappointed’ By Mangan’s Decision

A man who’s been arrested for drunken driving shouldn’t be the second-ranking member of the Spokane Police Department.

That’s why Dave Peffer, who’s served as assistant police chief for the past nine years, has been demoted to captain, Chief Terry Mangan said Friday.

Keeping Peffer as second in command “sends an inappropriate message both inside the organization and throughout the city government in general as well as to the public,” Mangan said in a written statement. “While we have the utmost respect for Dave Peffer … his continuance in the office of assistant chief under these circumstances is simply not appropriate.”

The president of the Spokane chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving gave the decision a lukewarm reception.

“Under the circumstances, I guess that’s about the best we’re going to get,” MADD’s Lisa Rusaw said. “I think it’s positive that they did something.”

Peffer was arrested in the Valley on March 16 after a state trooper spotted him driving erratically.

A breath test showed Peffer’s blood-alcohol level at 0.22, more than twice the legal limit, the Washington State Patrol reported.

Peffer told troopers he was going home after a party.

His case has not yet gone to court, but Mangan and City Manager Bill Pupo decided Peffer’s arrest was cause to strip him of his assistant chief title.

Mangan said the fact that Peffer was the “acting chief of police” when he was arrested exacerbated the situation. Mangan was out of town at the time.

The assistant chief’s position is not protected by civil service laws, so Peffer can’t appeal the decision.

The demotion will cost him about $3,000 a year in salary. As assistant chief, he made nearly $81,000 annually. A captain gets about $78,000 per year.

Peffer, 51, who has admitted to a drinking problem and checked himself in to a treatment program after his arrest, did not take the news well.

He released his own statement Friday in which he said he is “deeply disappointed that (Mangan) and Mr. Pupo have elected to address the embarrassment and inconvenience of my illness/recovery by firing me as assistant chief.”

Peffer said he takes “absolute responsibility for my total lack of judgment and is now “positively addressing the underlying illness.”

The decision to demote him “sends a terribly unfortunate message to others who might be wrestling with their own difficulties and, on a personal level, obscures the fact that I have contributed years of quality leadership and service to the department and the Spokane community,” he wrote.

Peffer has served on the force for 29 years. He was hired as a patrol officer and worked his way up to captain before being promoted to assistant chief by Mangan in 1988.

In that role, he was in charge of administrative services within the department, including the Police Academy, the city-county records division, crime prevention and community relations.

He also has been active in various civic organizations, including United Way.

Peffer, who is currently on paid vacation, said he will complete his treatment program before deciding what to do about his career.

Mangan said he will begin looking for a new assistant chief soon.

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