WSU police chief takes demotion over misuse of computer

Washington State University Police Chief Steve Hansen will be demoted to lieutenant next month after an internal audit determined he viewed and forwarded questionable e-mails from his office computer.

Hansen and Assistant Chief Scott West admitted to passing and downloading e-mails containing "sexually explicit" material in violation of school policies, as part of a WSU internal audit investigation. The audit found the two men passed the inappropriate e-mails to each other and others, but auditors said it was "not apparent" if the content in the e-mails was sexually explicit.

University policy prohibits the use of university property for anything but official purposes, according to the audit.

Hansen did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment, but said in a news release that he accepts the administration's decision to demote him. "That was a mistake on my part and I want to apologize for the embarrassment it has caused the department and the university."

West has decided to retire May 1, after 33 years with the department, according to the statement. Phone calls to West were not immediately returned Friday.

Richard Heath, a WSU senior associate vice president for business affairs who oversees the department, said by phone Friday that Hansen offered to step down.

Hansen, a WSU police officer since 1983 and police chief since 2000, will be demoted to patrol lieutenant May 16. The date coincides with the end of WSU's school year.

The selection process for a new police chief will begin next week, Heath said. The goal is to have a permanent chief on board by the start of next school year.

"It will take a while but I want to start immediately because I want to get this position filled as soon as I can," Heath said.

Auditors began investigating computer use of the two men last October following a verbal complaint, according to the audit.

Investigators found e-mails initiated by Hansen were then forwarded to West and others, according to the audit. Hansen told auditors the e-mails were forwarded to him from outside the university.

West admitted in depositions reported in the audit "that a joke, or photo of nude or partially nude women," would be forwarded to others on an occasional basis. Hansen also admitted to forwarding the e-mails "to other officers, or inviting other officers to view on his computer," according to the audit.

Evidence supported the allegation of receiving and sharing the e-mails, but auditors said the files were not "actively retrieved through web surfing," according to the audit.

In a written response as part of the audit, Heath said the police department would undergo training on the appropriate use of university resources.

As part of the demotion, Hansen will receive a drop in pay from $83,681 per year to $69,500 annually.

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Gary may be contacted at bgary@lmtribune.com or (208) 743-9600, ext. 262.