Today, I signed an order terminating the employment of a Seattle Police officer, Adley Shepherd based on his conduct during an incident involving a handcuffed subject on June 22, 2014.
The Office of Professional Accountability (OPA) concluded, and I concur, that the employee’s conduct was in stark contrast to the expectations set forth for our officers, and particularly our heightened duty of care to those in our custody. Over the last two years, this matter has been separately investigated by the Washington State Patrol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and OPA.
The employee was given opportunities to present his case at Loudermill hearings on two occasions. Also, in response to the employee’s EEO complaint, an independent investigation was conducted and recently completed.
The decision to end one’s employment is not easy and it is one I take very seriously. After much deliberation, based on the substantial evidence presented to me during this very comprehensive process, I believe this is the right decision for the Seattle Police Department and the community we serve.
The termination order is available here.