Seattle police plan to fire officer in misconduct case

John Powers, the veteran Seattle police officer at the center of a long-running investigation into misconduct, has been notified that the Police Department plans to fire him, according to sources who have been briefed on the decision.

The sources said Powers has been accused of using and distributing cocaine, leaving his patrol area to give rides to women with whom he had romantic relationships, and illegally sharing a prescription drug, the erectile-dysfunction drug Viagra, with other officers.

Internal investigators also have begun looking into new allegations that Powers and other officers routinely accepted free or discounted meals at a restaurant near Pike Place Market. Officers are not allowed to accept gratuities under department policy.

Powers, 44, who joined the department in 1997, is to meet with Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske later this month to defend himself. Kerlikowske then can uphold his decision to fire him or change it.

Powers' attorney did not respond to requests for comment yesterday.

Kevin Haistings, president of the Seattle Police Officers' Guild, said yesterday he was aware of the decision to fire Powers but didn't know the grounds cited by the department.

Internal investigators have been gathering evidence against Powers, two sergeants and a former officer as part of a broad investigation into misconduct. The department's Office of Professional Accountability (OPA), which oversees internal investigations, recommended that Powers be fired.

Kerlikowske agreed with OPA's findings and notified Powers of the plan to fire him, according to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is continuing.

The sources said that a woman who formerly worked at a Belltown nightclub told internal investigators that while having a romantic relationship with Powers, he provided her with cocaine.

The woman also stated that Powers left his downtown patrol district a number of times to take her in his patrol car from the club to her West Seattle home, the sources said.

Another woman who formerly worked at a downtown bar told investigators that Powers left his patrol district to take her to her Fremont home in his patrol car, the sources said. The two were involved in a romantic relationship, they said.

At least four witnesses told the department that Powers had used cocaine, according to the sources.

Powers has been on paid administrative leave since November. That move came during a four-year FBI investigation of him and other officers.

The FBI's Public Integrity Task Force in Seattle looked into allegations that officers overlooked illegal drug use and liquor violations while working off-duty as security guards for nightclubs in Belltown and Pioneer Square. The task force also examined whether officers used illegal drugs, spent work time on personal activities or associated with criminals.

No criminal charges were brought, but the FBI turned over its information to Seattle police internal investigators earlier this year for possible administrative action.

"Honored guests"

Internal investigators have developed additional information, including allegations that officers were given free or discounted meals at a downtown restaurant.

In one instance, a Port of Seattle police officer contacted Seattle police to report that he had been offered a free meal at the restaurant, officials said. The officer was offended by the offer and refused it but was told by a restaurant employee that meals were routinely given to Seattle officers, the sources said.

A spokesman for the restaurant said managers and servers are allowed to give free or discounted meals to "honored guests" who have been loyal to the restaurant. But he said he did not know whether that included police officers.

Other officers under investigation include a sergeant who once supervised Powers.

The sergeant, James Arata, is accused of jokingly referring to a subordinate as a "rat" during the FBI investigation, according to sources.

Kerlikowske tentatively decided in August to demote Arata. But after meeting with Arata and then with the officer who had been the target of the comment, Kerlikowske is rethinking that decision, said two sources close to the investigation, including one high-ranking police official. The officer who had been called a rat had made a formal statement to investigators but softened his position when questioned by Kerlikowske, the sources said.

Kerlikowske declined to comment yesterday.

Arata has denied making the comment, sources said. But he remains under investigation for other alleged misconduct that could result in his demotion, including failure to supervise Powers, the sources said.

He also is under investigation for providing a domestic-violence police report to a close friend, purportedly to help her with her divorce case, the officials said. Police reports should only be released by department officials once they have been approved for public disclosure.

OPA also has recommended that another sergeant, Joel Sweetland, be transferred from the department's downtown West Precinct for misconduct related to the Powers investigation, sources said.

Sweetland, who can appeal the action, has been under investigation for revealing the name of a federal informant to other officers, and for his supervision of Powers.

Steve Miletich: 206-464-3302 or smiletich@seattletimes.com;

Christine Willmsen: 206-464-3261 or cwillmsen@seattletimes.com