Police captain who sued chief placed on leave

A police captain who is suing Yakima police Chief Sam Granato and the city has been placed on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of an independent investigation.

 Capt. Rod Light, one of the city’s four top police officials below the chief, was relieved of his daily duties about two weeks ago.

City Manager Dick Zais on Monday was unwilling to discuss the matter, except to dispute any terminology likening it to a suspension.

 “It’s a personnel matter. At this time, I’m not in a position to comment on that,” Zais said.

Light, a veteran in the Yakima Police Department, will remain on leave indefinitely pending the outcome of a third-party investigation by a personnel resource firm in Bellevue, Wash., the city manager said.

Sources close to the case said the administrative leave was prompted, in part, by Light’s past relationships with two women, both of whom were wives of fellow officers. One was a female officer he supervised.

Last summer, Light sued Granato and the city, alleging he was the victim of retaliation after reporting misconduct at the Yakima Police Athletic League in 2005.

His attorney, Bill Pickett, declined to comment on the investigation of Light because of the lawsuit, except to say that he believes his client is again the victim of retaliation.

“Point blank, this is retaliation. Period,” Pickett said, adding, “And we will respond. This is not going to be allowed to continue.”

Light’s lawsuit is among nine legal claims or lawsuits that have been filed against Granato since he became chief in 2003.

Most involve workplace issues and union grievances. Zais and other city officials, including members of the City Council, have steadfastly defended the chief, noting that he has repeatedly prevailed over the unions in court.

One of the most recent complaints centers on an alleged political threat Granato made toward an officer who supported Micah Cawley’s re-election campaign.

Zais said Monday that he plans to brief the City Council in executive session on the results of the investigation, then meet Wednesday with police union officials who filed the complaint. Soon after, he said, he’ll issue a news release announcing his course of action.

He declined to signal his intent, saying he had not yet finalized the paperwork. However, sources familiar with the case said Zais was expected to exonerate the chief of any wrongdoing.

The investigation stemmed from a conversation in early January between Granato and a retired police sergeant, John Moon, outside City Hall.

In an interview with the Yakima Herald-Republic in February, Moon said he was talking with the chief when they encountered a young officer in a patrol car. As they walked away, Moon said Granato made a comment as he walked away that sounded “a little off.” The remark was “something to the effect of, ‘That young man was instrumental in Cawley getting re-elected. ... And I’ll have to remember that,’ ” Moon said.

Cawley, who is now mayor, has let it be known publicly that he believes Granato should step down as chief. The two have also disagreed over the police chief’s hiring of a crime analyst.

Although Moon said he interpreted Granato’s remark as less than innocent, he was dismayed that former colleagues in the police department used it as the basis for a complaint against the chief.

The city’s two police unions — one representing rank-and-file officers and the other representing command staff — filed complaints, alleging that Granato’s remark was a retaliatory threat against Officer Jim Moore.

In February, union officials went public with criticism that Zais was taking too long to investigate.

Moon was not contacted by city officials or an investigator with the city’s insurance carrier until after he spoke with the Herald-Republic about the incident.

• Chris Bristol can be reached at 509-577-7748 or cbristol@yakimaherald.com.