The Soap Lake Civil Service Commission recently convened to address the termination of former Soap Lake Police Department Chief Ryan Cox, who is contesting his dismissal following a disciplinary investigation. City officials terminated Cox on February 13, after a 13-week period on paid administrative leave, during which an investigation into his alleged misconduct took place.
Cox expressed his disagreement with the decision, describing it as unexpected and unjustified. He remains committed to seeking a resolution through the appeals process, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve the Soap Lake community since 2013. Cox has decided not to make any further statements until the appeals process concludes.
During the latest meeting on April 14, the commission discussed procedural logistics and established deadlines for the forthcoming proceedings. Discovery is due by July 1, with depositions to be completed by August 22. The actual hearing is scheduled for September 23 through September 26.
In a previous meeting on March 25, Soap Lake City Attorney Julie Norton filed a motion to recuse Commissioner Raymond Gravelle from the hearings, citing violations of the “appearance of fairness” doctrine. Norton emphasized that they are seeking recusal, not removal, to avoid invalidating the proceedings due to potential bias. Allegations of improper communications before and after Cox’s appeal were detailed, with Norton pointing to Gravelle’s prior interactions with Cox as possibly influencing his impartiality.
Norton highlighted several instances of ex parte communications that could disqualify Gravelle’s participation, including public comments where he characterized Cox’s actions as “slanderous” and “wrongfully accused.” Commissioner Fred Slipper shared these concerns, stressing the importance of impartiality to prevent future appeals.
Following the recusal of Gravelle, the commission is left with two commissioners, John Spencer and Fred Slipper, to oversee the proceedings. The emphasis remains on ensuring that all decision-makers maintain an appearance of impartiality throughout the process.