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Resident alleges evidence mishandling and selective enforcement by West Richland police; chief says investigation complete
Summary
At the March 18 West Richland City Council meeting a resident alleged mishandling of evidence, selective enforcement of protection orders and altered reports by the West Richland Police Department; Chief Crown said an internal investigation led by Commander Coats has concluded and a letter will be sent to the complainant.
Carrie Whitney, a West Richland resident who gave her address as 5208 Spirea Drive, told the City Council on March 18 that the West Richland Police Department had failed to collect and preserve key video evidence, applied protection orders inconsistently and allowed reports to be altered after the fact.
Whitney said she filed a formal complaint more than two months ago and described what she called “a deeper issue within leadership, training, and accountability.” She told the council the department’s failures had “denied justice” in recent cases and urged the council to consider independent oversight and stronger training and accountability measures.
The Whitman County Police Chief, identified in the meeting as Chief Crown, told the council he and staff had spoken with Whitney before the meeting and that the department had conducted a full investigation. “Commander Coats has led an investigation. He has completed his investigation. Tomorrow I will review his findings, and Mrs. Whitney will be sent a response letter, regards U.S. postal,” Chief Crown said. He added the department will continue conversations and take corrective steps "where they need to be made."
The complaint and the department review, as described at the meeting, remain internal processes; council members did not direct a separate council-level action or order an external review during the March 18 meeting. Chief Crown described the standard investigatory process to the council: witness interviews, officer interviews and a compiled report. The chief also said the department will follow up with the complainant in writing and continue work to address any issues identified in the investigation.
No ordinance, policy change, or formal council motion resulted directly from the public comment and the chief’s report at the March 18 meeting. The chief said the department’s findings would be reviewed internally and the complainant would receive a response by mail.
Council staff or members did not announce further public-committee or oversight steps during the meeting; the next formal steps described publicly were the chief’s review of Commander Coats’s report and the department’s written reply to Whitney.
