Detective accused of exposure fired

A sheriff’s detective accused of exposing himself to a young barista in Airway Heights was fired Thursday.

Joseph W. Mastel, 52, was a 12-year veteran of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

“What he did was a severe breach of public trust,” said Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich, adding that it dishonored the badge. “When people do something like this, we all wear it.”

The dismissal came following a disciplinary hearing earlier in the day. Mastel was represented by an attorney at the hearing but reportedly made no statement for the record.

Knezovichsaid he doubts Mastel will attempt to appeal the decision.

“It was a pretty cut-and-dried case,” Knezovich said.

Mastel also is charged with indecent exposure in connection with the June 16 encounter at the On Alert Caffeine Station. Penalties could include jail time, if Mastel is convicted.

He told Airway Heights police that he was hoping to build a relationship with the 23-year-old woman, and he thought she had mutual feelings for him. Mastel told police he realized he was wrong when he saw the look on the woman’s face after he exposed himself. He was off duty at the time.

The detective “violated state criminal law, civil service law, and Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Rules and Regulations and Policy and Procedures,” the sheriff said.

Mastel joined the Sheriff’s Office after retiring from the military, said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan. The property crimes detective was a respected member of the county organization; he had no record of similar illegal behavior.

Undersheriff Larry Lindskog said Mastel was a “guy’s guy, and he did something really stupid.”

The overall mood of the force regarding Mastel’s termination was described as “more sad than angry.”

Mastel could not be reached Thursday for comment. Knezovich said Mastel’s attorney informed the department that his client would have no public comment regarding the case.

Knezovich said Mastel apologized privately to him and the agency for his behavior.

The sheriff moved quickly on the decision to fire Mastel because “to have something like this held over your head makes no sense,” he said.

Mastel’s position in the property crimes unit will be filled with an internal promotion within the next week, the sheriff said.