CAREY JAMES WHATCOM COUNTY AREY JAME SHERIFF'S OFFICE JEFF PARKS BILL ELFO CHIEF DEPUTY er. KEVIN MOYES PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING (CHEF DEPUTY ‘311 Grand Avenue ‘WENDY JONES ‘Belinghan, WA 98225-4078 (CHIEF OF CORRECTIONS March 14, 2007 Steven Cooley, Sergeant Whatcom County Sheriff's Office 311 Grand Avenue Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 Dear Sergeant Cooley: ‘You were served with an Official Pre-Disciplinary Notice in accordance with the Whatcom County Civil Service Rules and Regulation manual, Chapter 18.02 on February 27", 2007. This letter will serve as final notification of the intemal investigation conducted on the allegation that on July 5", 2006 you unlawfully furnished alcoholic beverages to person less than 21 years of age within the city limits of Lynden, Whatcom County, Washington in violation of RCW 66.44.270(1). Inan interview with Lt. Scott Rossmiller of the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office on January 8", 2007, you freely admitted that you had provided the alleged minor with alcohol on more than one occasion knowing that she was underage sustaining the allegation made. In the above allegation the person to whom you are alleged to have provided alcohol to had not reached full legal age for the consumption of alcohol in the state of Washington, however it is believed that there are mitigating circumstances. Nothing can justify or excuse the fact that you admit that you did provide the alcohol but the fact that she was over the age of eighteen (18) years of age and a member of the United States Armed Forces are facts for reducing the degree of culpability. It was also established during the investigation that the minor was a former member of the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office Explorer program and that you possibly violated a position of trust established from your professional contact with the victim. It is possible that your having met and knowing this person from your position of authority as a Deputy with the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office placed you in a position to establish influences and choices that otherwise might not have been made. This is a violation of the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office Rules & Regulation’s Manual, Code of Conduct, and Chapter 16, which read as follows with boldness added for emphasis: 16.2 PLEDGE OF CODE OF ETHICS “16.2.1 Asa law enforcement peace officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; te protect the innocent SHERIFF CORRECTIONS (260) 676-9650 (60) 384-5360 FAX: (960) 738-2404 (360) 676-6848 (350) 384-3291 FAX: (360) 736-2480against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional Rights of all men to liberty, equality and justice. I will keep my private life unsullied as am example to all; maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn, or ridicule; develop restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life. 1 will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of the Department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty. I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities, or friendships to influence my decisions. ‘With no compromise for crime with relentless prosecution of criminals, 1 will enforce the law courteously, equally, and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or violence, and never accept gratuities. I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and public trust and will be true to the ethics of law enforcement and the peace officer as long as I am a member of the Sheriff's Office. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals.” ‘After reviewing the facts of this investigation it is concluded that good cause for discipline has been illustrated under the guidelines of section 17.03.B. of the Whatcom ‘County Sheriffs Office Civil Service Policy as follows: 17.03 DISCIPLINE—GOOD CAUSE—ILLUSTRATED “B. Dishonesty, intemperance, immoral conduct, insubordination, discourteous treatment of the public or a fellow employee, or any other act of omission or commission tending to injure the public service or any other willful failure on the part of the employee to properly conduct himself,” This letter will serve as notification that you are being given fifteen (15) Eight (8) hour working days off without pay. You are also being informed that any future incidents of a similar nature or additional violations of rules or regulations could result in additional and progressive penalties. if you wish to appeal this decision of discipline imposed, you may do so by providing a written statement of appeal per section 28.23 of the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office Rules and Regulation Manual, stating your cause for appeal to the Sheriff within Ten (10) days of receipt of this letter. Please contact me if you have any questions or require clarification regarding this matter.‘Scott Rossmiller - FW: Letter You Req'd —————— From: — John Billester To: “acdge@co, whatcom.wa.us" Date: 1/16/2007 10:28:01 AM Subject: FW: Letter You Req'd Art here is the email| received from Greg Greenan. if you need more, let me know. This will be documented under a confidential ‘case number, 06-3120, From: Greg Greenan [mailto:tagreenan@zenderthurston.com] ‘Sent: Monday, January 15, 2007 10:45 AM To: John Billester ‘Subject: John: ‘Thank you for preparing your January 12, 2006 memorandum regarding our contacts with Ms. Cavender, I have reviewed same. ‘Based upon my review of the entire case, itis my determination that the City of Lynden will not institute criminal charges against ‘Steve Cooley. Athhough | stil have some question regarding proof of the corpus delecti of the crime, my primary reason for declining prosecution is the absence of the complaining witness and her inablity to state whether she will be back in the Jurisdiction at any time prior to the running of the statute of limitations. Because in faimess there needs to be some resolution for all involved prior to the expiration of two years, its my decision to not file criminal charges and let the SO's intemal administrative run its course. Please inform Sheriff Elfo of this decision. Thank you. Greg files//CADocuments%20and’20Settings\A dministrator\Local%20Settings\Temp\GW}00001.HTM 1/16/2007DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE ‘AIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMAND 5 May 2006 Brigadier General Mary Kay Hertog ‘Commander, 37th Training Wing 1701 Kenly Avenue, Suite 201 Lackland AFB TX 78236-5103 ‘Mr. Steven M. Cooley P.O. Box 761 Lynden, WA. 78227-0491 Dear Mr. Cooley ‘Thank you for your concer regarding your friend who recently attended Basic Training and Security Forces Training here at Lackland Air Force Base. T want to assure you that itis not easy to obtain prescription pain medication here at Lackland, especially medication with a narcotic. Not only do we routinely conduct full unit sweeps of the Security Forces Training Squadron, we take all reports of the abuse or sharing of medication very seriously. I would encourage you to provide me with a name ‘50 we can fully investigate the matter. You may not want to get your friend in trouble, or impact her career, but it’s the right thing to do. ‘You mentioned she was in Security Forces (my career background as well). The Air Force does not need someone strung out on prescription medications carrying a weapon and performing police duties. You, as a cop, know that, My next duty assignment is as the Director of Security Forces for the Air Force (i.e. The Top Cop of the Air Force). ‘There is no way I want her in one of our Security Forces Squadrons as a danger to herself and others. Assuming what you've said is true, your friend needs help. Please do the right thing, as a person and as a fellow law enforcement professional, and give me her name to either clear her or help her. Please feel free to write again or call my office at 210-671-3337 if you have any further information. Sincerely fe BrighdiedGenerdl, USAF Commander