Sergeant Who Threatened to Arrest Me for Taking Photos Placed on Leave, Pending Discipline

KING 5 was leaked the latest:

King County Sheriff Deputy Patrick “K.C.” Saulet has been placed on administrative leave for an incident last summer involving a reporter for The Stranger, one of Seattle’s alternative newspapers. Sheriff John Urquhart confirmed Thursday that he placed Saulet on administrative leave just before Thanksgiving, just months after Saulet was demoted for his actions in a separate incident... Urquhart’s recent decision to place Saulet on leave was connected to the deputy’s treatment of Stranger reporter Dominic Holden, who said Saulet threatened him for taking pictures on a public sidewalk.

Background on my complaint is over here. I hadn't heard these details, so props to KING 5's Linda Byron for getting the leak from the department. I could only dig up a little bit more info.

It turns out that Saulet is appealing some sort of discipline.

Reached by e-mail moments ago, King County Sheriff John Urquhart told me, "The investigation into your incident is complete but the discipline is pending because Saulet requested a Loudermill hearing." That hearing is essentially an officer's chance to appeal their recommended punishment directly to the sheriff. But that's a dicey gamble. As we just learned, a King County sergeant who was facing a 20-day suspension appealed to Sheriff Urquhart recently, and Urquhart made the punishment more severe—firing the sergeant for dishonesty.

Urquhart was tight-lipped about the rest of my complaint: "I can’t comment in the case, other than he is on administrative leave, with pay, pending the hearing." Sergeant Saulet's hearing will be held December 19. Stay tuned.