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Harassment Investigation Continues, Mayor Condon Questioned

Steve Petrucelli via flickr

In a unanimous vote, the Spokane City Council voted Monday to approve giving Mayor David Condon a letter that questions his handling of the alleged harassment investigation involving former Spokane Police Chief Frank Straub.

Council president Ben Stuckart says Council members want to know why Spokane's Human Resources Department did not investigate allegations of Chief Straub's harassment against police Spokeswoman Monique Cotton and when the mayor first became aware of those accusations.

“And it talks about the public records request and the timing of it, and the delay of it. It talks very specifically about when there is a harassment complaint, someone being moved to a different department. And then that person, the accused, is without an investigation, is put in charge of another department, where employees are put at risk.”

For his part, Mayor Condon is bringing in a retired federal judge to look into how personnel issues were handled in 2015 within the Spokane Police Department.

Council President Ben Stuckart threatened to subpoena anyone who refuses to cooperate in this case.

The council says the Mayor has until Dec 11th to answer their questions.

Steve was part of the Spokane Public Radio family for many years before he came on air in 1999. His wife, Laurie, produced Radio Ethiopia in the late 1980s through the '90s, and Steve used to “lurk in the shadowy world” of Weekend SPR. Steve has done various on air shifts at the station, including nearly 15 years as the local Morning Edition host. Currently, he is the voice of local weather and news during All Things Considerd, writing, editing, producing and/or delivering newscasts and features for both KPBX and KSFC. Aside from SPR, Steve ,who lives in the country, enjoys gardening, chickens, playing and listening to music, astronomy, photography, sports cars and camping.