Felony charges may be filed in diploma case against 9 State Patrol troopers

The State Patrol is recommending that nine troopers accused of purchasing falsified diplomas to get an increase in pay face felony theft charges, a prosecutor says.

Thurston County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Mark Thompson said he will review the nine cases and make a decision on whether to file criminal charges by the end of the month. The Patrol turned over a box of investigative paperwork to Thompson on Monday.

State Patrol Capt. Jeff DeVere said the nine troopers, including three sergeants, were put on paid leave Oct. 13 after agency officials couldn't determine whether the schools from which they said they obtained their diplomas existed.

It appears the troopers may have purchased the diplomas from "fraudulent institutions," DeVere said.

DeVere said the nine will remain employed pending the results of a State Patrol administrative investigation, which will begin once Thompson gives the go-ahead. If the troopers are prosecuted, the State Patrol's investigation will likely start after the cases are adjudicated, DeVere said.

DeVere said that even if the troopers are charged with a felony, it won't automatically result in job termination.

That decision won't be made until after the State Patrol's internal investigation.

The Patrol discovered the disputed diplomas after conducting a routine review of employees' personnel files last summer. The audit came after several accounts of law-enforcement and other government officials across the country being caught with fake diplomas, DeVere said.

The schools listed couldn't be easily determined by looking at Web sites or making phone calls, he added.

Troopers who have a four-year degree can earn a 4 percent increase in pay, and a master's degree will bring an additional 2 percent raise. The State Patrol rewards troopers who get a two-year degree with a 2 percent pay increase, DeVere said.

Those whose cases were referred to Thurston County prosecutors include Sgts. Christopher Sweet, who has been with the agency 17 years and is stationed in Kelso; Robert Brusseau, who has been a trooper for 12 years and works in Vancouver; and Jason Linn, who has been with the agency 15 years and also works in Vancouver.

Also, Gabriel Olson, a nine-year veteran stationed in Vancouver; Bryan Ensley, an eight-year veteran in Vancouver; Spike Unruh, a 10-year veteran in Wenatchee; John McMillan, a 14-year veteran in Wenatchee; Dennis Tardiff, an eight-year veteran in Seattle; and Daniel Mann, an 18-year veteran in Spokane.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com

Information from Seattle Times archives is included in this report.