SOAP LAKE – The Soap Lake Police Chief Ryan Cox was placed on paid administrative leave Nov. 15, 2024, making it 13 weeks, today. Robert Geates has been the acting police chief since Cox was placed on leave. 

Mayor Peter Sharp confirmed an investigation was underway. 

“We understand and acknowledge the concern from the community regarding the continued absence of the Chief of Police,” Sharp said in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald. “Although the City does not usually comment on personnel matters (to protect the privacy of the employee), this statement is being provided to confirm that the investigation remains ongoing. The City is following the process and procedures required by appliable rules and regulations and hopes to have the investigation concluded shortly. The City will issue a press release once the matter has been concluded. In the meantime, we appreciate your patience and understanding.” 

Geates and Sharp declined to identify what agency or group is conducting the investigation regarding Cox. Council member Judith Gorman also said she did not know who was conducting the investigation and it had not been brought up in meetings.  

Sharp said he is unsure how long the investigation will continue.  

According to public records from the city, Cox has been paid $24,138.35 while on paid administrative leave. Cox has also been provided $4,125.70 worth of benefits, paid by the City of Soap Lake during that time.  

According to Geates, SLPD is supposed to have five officers and a chief. Currently Geates said the department is himself, alongside two officers.  

“It's kind of a combination (of lack of officers and) Cox’s administrative leave,” Geates said. “Obviously, if Chief Cox was here, we would be four staffed and we wouldn't have to have to rely on Grant County Sheriff’s Office as much.”  

A public records request from the City of Soap Lake shows an invoice from Grant County Sheriff’s Office to Soap Lake Police Department for $24,858.99 the month of December.  

In December, 12 different deputies from GCSO covered shifts for SLPD totaling 198 hours of covered time on 13 different days.  

On the invoice, nine deputies were paid rates ranging between $86.83 an hour to $150.90 an hour. Deputies are paid at an overtime rate when completing coverage.  

Soap Lake was also charged a patrol vehicle usage fee 17 times, totaling $1,700.  

This is the first official comment given by a city official in regard to Cox’s paid administrative leave. However, city and county staff spoke with the Columbia Basin Herald on condition of anonymity, stating the issue regarding Cox stems from two different incidents. Sources were either not authorized to speak about the issue or feared reprisal if they were named publicly. 

The first issue involves Cox's use of a city vehicle to tow a car he bought from the City of Brewster. He purchased this vehicle for $1 after Brewster's insurance company declared it a total loss, then repaired it and sold it to the City of Oroville for $7,500. 

According to investigators from the State Auditor’s Office, both Brewster and Oroville police chiefs believed that Cox was negotiating on behalf of Soap Lake. Cox, however, previously told the Columbia Basin Herald that he had clearly indicated that these were private transactions and that both chiefs were aware that he operated a business repairing government vehicles for resale. Cox expressed uncertainty about the source of their misunderstanding. 

The car was temporarily stored at the SLPD garage, and Cox allegedly used city resources to communicate with the other departments about the vehicle. It was purchased from Brewster in October 2020 and sold to Oroville the following month, as stated in the State Auditor’s Office report. 

The second issue involves a local resident who was stopped and given a warning by an officer. Afterward, the resident donated steaks to the department. Although the staff tried to decline the gift, the resident left the meat behind. No staff members used the donation, as the meat was eventually discarded. However, the city administration allegedly expressed that they believe Cox should have managed the situation differently. 

Outside of the one statement, Peter Sharp and other city officials have declined to give public comment. The Columbia Basin Herald will provide an updated story as more information is known.