KHQ Right Now - News and Weather for Spokane and North Idaho | City cleared in firefighter sex scandal civil lawsuit
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Daniel Ross resigned his position with the fire department in 2006 after details of his sexual encounter were made public.SPOKANE, Wash. - District Court Judge Fred Van Sickle granted the City of Spokane's motions for summary judgment Monday, dismissing all remaining state and federal claims against the City and two Spokane Police Department officers in the "Jane Doe" civil lawsuit filed following the firefighter sex scandal that happened at Fire Station 17 in February 2006.
Two police officers were suspended in the wake of the scandal involving firefighter Daniel Ross, who resigned his position with the fire department once the details of his sexual encounter were made public.
Detective Neal Gallion was placed on suspension for two days because he authorized photos of the sexual activity be deleted. Sergeant Joe Peterson was suspended for three days because he was the on-scene supervisor and held ultimately accountable. The two allowed Ross to delete the pictures in an effort to protect the teenage victim.
They did say however, that they wish they would have kept the images or the camera as evidence.
In ordering the suspensions, the Deputy Chief noted that prosecutors investigating the incident "found no intent by the officers to impair or obstruct the investigation".
In addition to the disciplinary action, the Police Department announced in July of 2006 that it would change its policy with regard to similar situations. The disciplinary actions were taken nearly a month after Spokane County prosecutors said they would not file charges against anyone connected to the firefighter sex scandal.
Ross admitted to having sex with a 16-year old girl in a Spokane Fire Department fire house. But prosecutors said, after two criminal investigations, they did not have enough evidence to warrant charges against Ross.
Spokane County Prosecutor Steve Tucker said they could not recover apparently sexually-explicit digital photos taken of the girl because Ross deleted them at the direction of the two Spokane Police investigators.
Police believe the digital card that was in the camera at the time the pictures were taken had been switched, but Tucker said that could not be proved.
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