A termination letter by Everett Police Chief Kathy Atwood noted that Nelson, 40, had been a School Resource Officer, as was his then-wife, and that the 16-year-old girl was a student at the school where Nelson’s wife worked. The girl in question became close to Nelson and his family, the letter said. Prosecutors declined to charge him since the age of consent is 16 in the state of Washington. Worth note however is this statement from the police chief. But the police chief, in her letter to Nelson, said, “Your conduct as credibly detailed by (the girl) reeks of sexual exploitation of a vulnerable minor. You as (1) a police officer, (2) an SRO, (3), the husband of (wife) former SRO, and (4) something of a father figure to (the girl) had an inherently coercive hold over (the girl). Your conduct, as described by (the girl) must be categorized as reprehensible.” Instead of protecting a minor as a police officer, “you exploited (redacted) and caused her harm,” Atwood said. Good on the chief for doing the right thing for the right reasons. As the chief is doing the right thing, barring some how the appeal being accepted, I think this is the best possible outcome in this case. Though it does beg the question, what would have happened had it been a teacher, would the teacher be prosecuted? State Sponsored Criminal Count Honorable Mention: Brian Nelson Because there is no correlation between the law and justice which means as a cop you can do anything morally or ethically questionable. That is unless you chief actually has a conscience and a pair of stones. Continue reading →