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Mount Si girls win KingCo cross country title Page 9
Your locally owned newspaper, serving North Bend and Snoqualmie, Washington October 30, 2015
Cop fired in Tukwila now in trouble in Snoqualmie By Mike Carter Seattle Times staff reporter A police officer who was hired by the city of Snoqualmie despite a history of excessive force has been placed on administrative leave and is under investigation by the department, according to city officials. Snoqualmie will not specify the allegations that led them to pull Officer Nicholas Hogan off the streets; however, City Attorney Bob Sterbank says they
North Bend to send mental health inmates to Des Moines
do not involve the use of force there. Hogan was placed on leave Oct. 5, Sterbank said. He was hired by the city in January 2014 even though he was fired by the Tukwila Police Department in 2012 for aggressive street tactics and his apparent affiliation with the sometimes violent anti-drug “Straight Edge” movement. Hogan’s commanders in Tukwila were concerned he was targeting intoxicated African-
American men and was too quick to resort to force, generating complaints from citizens and fellow officers. Court records indicate that Tukwila paid out more than $425,000 to settle lawsuits filed by citizens against Hogan and the department. Snoqualmie has been reluctant to discuss its decision to hire Hogan, who was chosen from a group of several officers as it expanded its police force to take over providing public safety for neighboring North
Bend, which until last year was covered by the King County Sheriff’s Office. Snoqualmie Police Chief Steve McCulley, Mayor Matthew Larson and other city officials have repeatedly turned down requests for interviews to discuss Hogan. Joan Pliego, city communications coordinator, later said The Times declined a second interview at Snoqualmie City Hall, in emails to The Times and SnoValley Star. Additionally,
Pliego said the city responded to questions with “comprehensive, multiple-page answers.” Those answers provided in-depth information, not included in the articles, she added. However, in written responses to questions, Snoqualmie said it chose Hogan from a trio of candidates and said he was fully vetted and passed a lie-detector test. Larson said in a statement that the department was “aware See TROUBLE, Page 3
Here’s to homecoming
By Dylan Chaffin dchaffin@snovalleystar.com North Bend will now have the option of sending inmates with mental health issues to an in-state program based in Des Moines, per a decision made at the council meeting Oct. 20. The South Correctional Entity, otherwise known as SCORE, provides a lower-cost alternative to jailing prisoners in Issaquah or in the King County Jail in Seattle. The King County Jail is the only facility that the city uses that offers holding for mental health inmates, but at a steep cost. Per prisoner, the city can pay $364 for two days. Since 2012, annual costs have risen by 250 percent, from $60,105 to $209,000 in 2015. Costs reflect the increased level of police services and the council’s emphasis on improving public safety, according to council documents. The agreement is effective through Dec. 31, 2018. The nonguaranteed SCORE bed rate is currently $145. This price will rise to $157 in 2016. The council also amended the 2015-2016 budget, adjusting for other increases, including special revenue, capital projects and utility funds. Highlighted projects include See INMATES, Page 5
By Dylan Chaffin
Mount Si freshmen dance along to the music coming from their parade float.
SLIDESHOW Find more photos from Mount Si High School’s Homecoming Parade at www.snovalleystar.com.
Prsrt Std U.S. Postage PAID Kent, WA Permit No. 71 Photos by Dylan Chaffin
Above, Mount Si students pose for photos at the end of the parade. At right, the Mount Si High School Wildcat mascot waves to the crowd gathering at the homecoming parade Oct. 23.
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