Authorities arrested a veteran sergeant with the Seattle Police Department Friday after he was accused of abusing two of his daughters for years.
In a statement released Friday, authorities said they found probable cause to support the allegations. Lake Forest Park police arrested the officer, who was not identified, without incident with the help of Kirkland police and the King County Sheriff's Office.
Seattle police commanders relieved the employee of duty and confiscated his badge and gun. Authorities said he would be booked into King County Jail in Seattle and would be placed on unpaid administrative leave if he is charged with a felony.
Officers with SPD received a report from the officer's daughters alleging long-term abuse on April 1. Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole and Office of Professional Accountability Director Pierce Murphy were notified of the reports and Seattle police handed the investigation over to Lake Forest Park detectives. The alleged abuse occurred in SPD's jurisdiction.
Authorities said the officer accused in the case was previously reported for abuse. In 2013, the Lake Forest Park Police Department, Child Protective Services and OPA opened a case, but prosecutors later declined to pursue it because of insufficient evidence. A CPS investigation concluded the allegations were unfounded. The results of OPA's administrative investigation were inconclusive.
Investigators said there was no reason to believe the officer is a threat to the public or that anyone outside his family would make additional allegations of abuse.
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