Renton Deputy Police Chief forced out amid email scandal
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RENTON, Wash. -- The Renton Police Department is once again in turmoil as the deputy chief has been forced out due to unprofessional emails and plans to spy on a co-worker.
Despite the way Deputy Chief Tim Troxel is going out the door, the city's chief of police said the longtime cop will leave with his full benefits.
Renton Police Chief Kevin Milosevich said Troxel, who's been with the department since 1984, is eligible for retirement. He said state law dictates that once an officer's qualified for retirement, not even a felony conviction can take it away.
In this case, Troxel will retire Friday after an independent investigation found a "lack of professional conduct" on his part. That summary stems from a series of email conversations with subordinates.
In one message, Troxel sent a picture of a Renton police officer entitled: "Officer Fatpants," that said "he ditched the doughnuts for some caramel corn." In other email conversations, Troxel called a subordinate offensive names.
In a written response to Milosevich, Troxel said he was very sorry and realized the need to maintain professionalism at all times. He also pleaded for disciplinary action instead of termination.
The latest problem within the police department comes on the heels of last year's investigation into a series of anonymously-produced cartoons that mocked members of the force. Milosevich said the cartoons were intended to embarrass and torment the department and other city employees. That investigation ended without any criminal charges.
When Troxel leaves, the department will be without any deputy chiefs. Milosevich said he plans on keeping it that way for now and will not fill the department's seven open positions until the city finalizes its new budget this fall.
In addition to the email, the investigation also found that Troxel attempted to set up surveillance on another employee. He said in his letter that he believed that employee was running a personal business while on city time.
Troxel has been on leave, using vacation and sick time, since July.
Despite the way Deputy Chief Tim Troxel is going out the door, the city's chief of police said the longtime cop will leave with his full benefits.
Renton Police Chief Kevin Milosevich said Troxel, who's been with the department since 1984, is eligible for retirement. He said state law dictates that once an officer's qualified for retirement, not even a felony conviction can take it away.
In this case, Troxel will retire Friday after an independent investigation found a "lack of professional conduct" on his part. That summary stems from a series of email conversations with subordinates.
In one message, Troxel sent a picture of a Renton police officer entitled: "Officer Fatpants," that said "he ditched the doughnuts for some caramel corn." In other email conversations, Troxel called a subordinate offensive names.
In a written response to Milosevich, Troxel said he was very sorry and realized the need to maintain professionalism at all times. He also pleaded for disciplinary action instead of termination.
The latest problem within the police department comes on the heels of last year's investigation into a series of anonymously-produced cartoons that mocked members of the force. Milosevich said the cartoons were intended to embarrass and torment the department and other city employees. That investigation ended without any criminal charges.
When Troxel leaves, the department will be without any deputy chiefs. Milosevich said he plans on keeping it that way for now and will not fill the department's seven open positions until the city finalizes its new budget this fall.
In addition to the email, the investigation also found that Troxel attempted to set up surveillance on another employee. He said in his letter that he believed that employee was running a personal business while on city time.
Troxel has been on leave, using vacation and sick time, since July.
Renton, Ahead of the Curve... This is the last of the fallout from the video YouTube scandal of last year. The chief in Renton should resign considering he has allowed this behavior as well as other bad behavior to occur in the department. The videos from a year ago brought some of the problems to light but were quickly hushed up. The department needs to be rearranged from the top down. The mayor of Renton is another problem since he supports the chief. I figure with this type of support nothing will happen in the Renton police department. Cronyism continues...
Let me get this straight, 28 years in the PD, and now he's realizing the need for professionalism?
or, he's sorry he was caught, and now he want's to be a professional after not being so for 28 years?
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too bad the people of renton have to keep paying these folks
Lets take a minute out of are busy day and hug a cop, oh ya good luck on that move....
Full retirement? It's the law, but thinking not full retirement but, half of the benefits would be more reasonable. The department's problems run deeper than Troxel, but sounds like the chief is not interested in going deeper into these claims.Â
Everyone knows that the Renton PD is corrupt. Then again, show me a police department in Western Washington that isn't.
@FremontTroll Well, no one has come up with a PD that is not corrupt, the best they can do is say that there are some non corrupt people that choose to work in corrupt environments
@FremontTroll Where is the dislike button??? Not all cops are bad.
@FremontTroll Not all officers are corrupt!
After all the mud that slings around in Renton PD, I'm glad that it's starting to get mopped up. Hopefully, there will be a strong, ethical leader that steps up soon.
wow 7 Deputy Police Chief slots open. that's a waste of money. What do they need maybe 3 or 4. I mean thats like over coverage for the guy who is on vacation for vacation for the other guy. what a waste of money.
Troxel has been a dirty cop for a very long time. Â Just like Chuck Marsalisi (another Deputy Chief who was allowed to retire early as opposed to facing termination) these idiots were promoted by Milosevich. Â Who's the failed "leader" in the Department? Â It's a broken Department and has been for a very long time. Â Everybody knows it - nobody is doing anything about it. Â At least - not enough. Â Shameful for those employees who want a strong leadership that they can respect. Â If the public only knew the real depth of destruction that this Chief has caused. . . why do you think everybody calls him "bobblehead"? Â Troxel got away with "murder" Â and all of this started long before he started trading emails with Sgt. Todd Frazier and setting up hidden cameras on chief's secretary Sherri Smith. Â Again - everybody there knows this - except the public, of course. Â There are more up and comers that are just as corrupt - they are sergeants now but they will soon fill the shoes of those who left. Â It's sickening. Â But commonplace at RPD. Â Troxel screwed up royally during his career, got promoted for it, and then was allowed to take a very long paid vacation before he was then allowed to settle w/the city and retired with full benefits. Â Now he will join his girlfriend down south while she enjoys her job as city manager. Â I don't know who I feel sorry for more, the city she's newly hired to "manager" or for her choosing such a loser as Troxel. Â I guess if you don't work out a the City of Renton, you can just start fresh someplace else far away. Â Gotta love government work!
".... Now he will join his girlfriend down south while she enjoys her job as city manager ...."
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Um, I doubt you have any clue what you are talking about. Tim is MARREID, happily. I know both him & his wife from having taken care of their health care claims.
@David326 No where in this article does it list the names of the victims as you have just done. I hope they didn't want their privacy.
They're operating without any deputy chiefs and have positions allocated for seven !!?? Â
 ...That sure tells you about the dorks running Rentons department, huh?
Stick a Captain in there and turn the remaining positions into 10 ground-pounding officers on the streets.
I'm available as a consultant and can do the math on a chalkboard for you guys.
@bagsofdirt , may be you need to make an anonymous sarcastic comic video about it and then they'll watch it.
"state law dictates that once an officer's qualified for retirement, not even a felony conviction can take it away."
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Anyone else here think that's screwed up?
@Petwlkr um no...they earned it. Do you think everything you earned in your lifetime should be taken away if you're convicted of something? Or do you just want to do your time?
 @bagsofdirt For this, no. There's no conviction here and what he did is relatively minor in the grand scheme of things (although it's still wrong). But for something like murder or an ongoing case (or multiple individual instances) of child sexual abuse or rape? Yes, I think a POLICE OFFICER convicted of such crimes, since there's an extra layer of trust, responsibility, and expectations involved, should be stripped of health benefits and any employer contributions towards their retirement, as well as any pension or other benefits related to their work. It would be immoral to take away the money they contributed towards their retirement themselves, so that's why I say only their employer's contribution, if any. But I also think it would be fair to let any survivors or victims of their crimes sue for a portion of their retirement benefits as compensation for what they went through.
@spacegoddess Suing someone in a civil arena for monetary damages has always been an option...for anyone and against anyone.
This hurts my heart. I knew Tim when we were growing up together - he was in my older borther's Boy Scout troop & was a wonderful guy. I spoke with him recently (I worked for the company that does their health insuancebenefits), and he shared fond memories of the camping tgrips the troop used to take, asked aftger my Dad (who was their leader). It' sad when someone you know personally & have grown up with ends up in this sort of situation.
Sounds like Troxel doesn't have enough crime to keep him busy working . . . just collecting $ for being an idiot.
Nice. Sounds like Renton has an effective government. Not.