Washougal’s police-fire chief steps down

WASHOUGAL — The Washougal City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Cam Hershaw, the city’s public safety director.

Hershaw was the subject of a no-confidence vote by police officers in August.

Although city officials had announced the special meeting 24 hours earlier, only three or four people were in the audience beside two newspaper reporters, and no one commented.

Hershaw did not attend the meeting and officials indicated he had already gathered belongings from his office and left.

“I have all the respect for Cam Hershaw,” Mayor Stacee Sellers said after the decision.

Officials said they were advised by attorneys not to discuss why Hershaw resigned. They said Hershaw had a second option, but they declined to provide details.

Hershaw had served as police chief since February 2005 and later took on duties of the fire chief as public safety director.

Under the agreement, Hershaw will continue to receive his salary until May 15, 2009, and the city will pay the premiums on his health insurance until April 30, 2009.

The resignation agreement document, signed by Hershaw, also releases the city from any legal claims.

In mid-July, Washougal police Detective Sgt. Brad Chicks filed notice of a claim for damages. Chicks said Hershaw had embarrassed, humiliated and intimidated him for years.

Chicks remains on sick leave, Sellers said Monday night, and his claim is still active. She said she didn’t know when he will return to duty.

On Aug. 26, the Camas-Washougal Post-Record reported that a large majority of the Washougal Police Association had supported a vote of no-confidence in Hershaw.

Their attorney, Jaime Goldberg, told the newspaper that the association’s complaints included lack of integrity and bullying when dealing with police officers, as well as antagonism, anger problems and retaliation.

An investigation by City Administrator Nabiel Shawa and Human Resources Director Jeanette Cefalo included interviews with 23 police department employees, but concluded it found no evidence that Hershaw targeted Chicks or that Chicks had told Hershaw of his concerns, the Post-Record reported.

The Columbian could not reach Hershaw for comment Monday night.

Monday night’s unanimous vote came with one absence, Councilman Lou Peterson.

Asked why the audience was so small, Shawa said he posted notices of the special meeting at city hall, the police station, the library and the post office.

“We had a few phone calls today, so people knew about it,” he said.

Sellers appointed Sgt. Ron Mitchell as interim police chief and Ron Schumacher as interim fire chief.

John Branton can be reached at 360-735-4513 or john.branton@columbian.com.