Police Chaplain Fired For Ethical Breaches Oversight Board Received Complaints From People Chaplain Counseled

The Spokane Police Department’s lead chaplain has been fired for “breaches of ethical conduct,” an official said Friday.

The Rev. Bill Goodrick, who became the department’s full-time chaplain in 1993, was let go last week, said Sgt. Dean Sprague, chairman of the Chaplain’s Board.

The board is a private, nonprofit organization that pays for the chaplain’s position through voluntary donations from police officers.

Sprague said the board recently received complaints about inappropriate behavior by Goodrick and launched an investigation.

Sprague declined to reveal the nature of the allegations, which were lodged by people Goodrick had counseled recently.

“There was a pattern of integrity violations,” Sprague said. “They were allegations that, because of his position of trust, he could not continue.”

Sprague said no criminal charges are anticipated.

Goodrick, a former police officer in Nevada, could not be reached for comment.

Sprague said the board is seeking a replacement for Goodrick.

The full-time chaplain works with seven volunteers to counsel victims and comfort witnesses at crime scenes. They are also charged with notifying the relatives of someone who dies.

, DataTimes