Reversal of firing puts panel under fire

The decision to reverse the firing of a detective who exposed himself at a coffee stand may hurt at least one member of the Spokane County Civil Service Commission’s chances for a second six-year term.

“I’m concerned about the message it sends to our staff and to the public about what kinds of conduct are acceptable,” said Spokane County Commission Chairman Mark Richard. Civil Service members are appointed by county commissioners.

John R. Shagen and Curt Berklund approved the decision that was announced Monday to revoke Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich’s termination of Detective Joseph Mastel, who exposed himself June 16 to a barista in Airway Heights while off-duty. Shagen and Berklund stipulated that Mastel retire after a yearlong, unpaid suspension.

Shagen’s first six-year term will end later this month. He has requested reappointment, and no other candidates have applied.

Attempts made to reach the three Civil Service commissioners on Tuesday were unsuccessful.

Shagen, however, did talk Tuesday morning with Rebecca Mack, producer of “The Mark Fuhrman Show” which airs on KGA 1510 AM. Shagen did not go on the air, but Mack told listeners that Shagen believed that Mastel had not committed a crime and compared Mastel’s actions to those that led to the impeachment of President Clinton, saying that what Clinton did was much worse.

Mastel was charged with indecent exposure stemming from the incident. A municipal court judge deferred Mastel’s sentence, which will allow the charge to be dismissed in a year as long as he completes mental health treatment and obeys the law.

Although the ruling won’t affect Mastel’s retirement payments, commissioners stipulated that Mastel be compensated for his unused sick days.

At the time he was fired, Mastel had saved 914 hours of sick leave, said Spokane County Human Resources Director Cathy Malzahn. She said the sheriff’s contract stipulates that departing employees with at least 20 years’ employment can receive pay for up to 65 days of their unused sick time, but they aren’t eligible for that compensation if they’ve been fired. Not only was Mastel fired, but he worked at the department only 13 years.

The intent of the commissioners’ ruling is to let Mastel get paid for sick leave despite the contract language, said Ron Arkills, the senior deputy prosecuting attorney who represents the Civil Service Commission.

The decision was denounced by Knezovich, who quickly arranged a press conference after the ruling was released Monday. He expressed concern that reversing the firing will allow Mastel to be hired for other law enforcement work in Washington.

“We should have a decertified detective,” Knezovich said Monday. “Now he could go apply for a job somewhere else.”

Arkills said Civil Service commissioners felt their decision would be satisfactory to the sheriff because Mastel will never again work for the Sheriff’s Office.

“They are conscientious people who obviously have integrity and try to do the right thing,” Arkills said. “They don’t have vendettas against the sheriff or the sheriff’s department.”