A longtime homicide detective with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office has resigned amid an investigation into a romantic relationship he allegedly had with a heroin user.
Detective Kevin Harper resigned on Feb. 10, according to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.
Harper, 57, became the focus of an investigation when authorities learned in September that Harper had an affair with Tracy Wasserman, who is known to be a heroin addict, according to a summary of the investigation.
He was placed on administrative leave and the sheriff’s office began an internal investigation into the allegations of misconduct.
However, throughout the course of that investigation, deputies became aware of potential criminal activity and Washington State Patrol investigators stepped in.
The investigation showed that Harper met Wasserman in August 2015 when he responded to investigate a death and possible overdose of one of Wasserman’s friends, according to the WSP report.
State patrol detectives collected evidence that showed Harper witnessed the woman using heroin, did not seize her cellphone during the execution of a search warrant and gave her money when he knew or should have known that it was to help the woman buy heroin, the investigation summary states.
Detectives have completed their criminal investigation into Harper and have forwarded the information to the Attorney General’s Office for consideration of charges.
No charging decision has yet been made, and Harper’s resignation doesn’t change anything as far as potential charges go, state attorney general spokesman Peter Lavallee said.
Harper had worked for the sheriff’s office since 1988 and had been a major crimes detective since December 1996. Harper is eligible to receive his pension, Undersheriff Mike Cooke said.
“We’re very disappointed this happened, and we do think this will continue to impact cases that are currently in the system,” Cooke said. “What those impacts are remains to be seen.”
Having been a major crimes detective for 20 years, Harper was the lead investigator for numerous criminal charges in Clark County Superior Court. The allegations against him have the potential to affect a number of cases.
Charges already have been dropped in an attempted murder case because of the investigation.
Harper was the lead investigator in the case against Troy Meyers and Michael Conley, two men accused of stabbing an acquaintance in November 2015.
The charges were dismissed without prejudice, meaning they could be filed again at a later date.
