Omak police chief sued over affair

A former Omak, Wash., police reservist is suing the city of Omak and police Chief Larry Schreckengast for Schreckengast’s alleged use of a city computer to conduct an affair with the reservist’s wife.

Brett Klimek claims in a lawsuit in Okanogan County Superior Court that he suffered emotional distress and lost hundreds of dollars a year in wages. The Police Department improperly fired him after he complained about Schreckengast’s conduct, Klimek claims.

Although not paid for his regular work as a volunteer reserve officer, Klimek said in court documents that he had earned about $700 a year, at $15 an hour, for work during the annual Omak Stampede rodeo. A copy machine salesman, Klimek still is a reserve deputy for the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office but gets no pay for that work.

Klimek said he joined the city police reserves in May 1999 and asked for a temporary leave last December because of stress caused by Schreckengast’s “illicit affair” with his wife, Marci. About two days later, Klimek said, he received a letter of dismissal from the police department.

Schreckengast, 47, didn’t respond to requests for comment.

The city disputes Klimek’s allegations, according to Jerry Moberg, an Ephrata, Wash., attorney assigned by the city’s insurance pool.

“We don’t believe the case is well-founded,” Moberg said, declining to elaborate. “We’re certainly going to review all the information and respond accordingly.”

Klimek said he discovered in February 2003 that Schreckengast was corresponding with his wife by e-mail from Schreckengast’s office in the police station. Klimek said he told Schreckengast to have no further contact with Marci Klimek, and Schreckengast agreed.

The lawsuit contains no details of the alleged affair.

Nine months later, according to the lawsuit, Klimek complained to Mayor Dale Sparber that Schreckengast continued to use his city computer to correspond with Klimek’s wife. Klimek said he also complained to three City Council members, but the city officials took no action.

In addition, Klimek said he again confronted Schreckengast last November, and Schreckengast responded that he and Marci Klimek were just friends. According to the lawsuit, Schreckengast again promised to break off contact with Klimek’s wife, but minutes later Klimek intercepted a call from Schreckengast to Marci Klimek’s cell phone.

The Klimeks were granted a divorce last month.

Brett Klimek doesn’t specify a demand in his lawsuit, but he asked for $200,000 in an earlier claim letter that city officials rejected.