Bellevue police Chief Steve Mylett was placed on paid administrative leave Thursday after an alleged incident that was reported to the Bothell Police Department from more than a year ago, the city of Bellevue said.
KIRO 7 has learned the investigation into Chief Mylett stems from statements made by a victim during the investigation of Bellevue Police Officer John Kivlin.
Kivlin was arrested and charged with domestic violence assault for an incident with a woman he had an affair with. He was later arrested and charged with witness tampering and violating a protection order for sending threatening text messages to the woman.
That same woman accused another Bellevue Police Officer of sexual assault. Documents obtained by KIRO 7 say that during her interview with investigators, she mentioned an incident with Bellevue Police Chief Steve Mylett. That case was referred to the Bothell Police Department because the alleged crime happened in Bothell.
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“Whenever there is a criminal investigation underway involving a Police Department employee, it is our policy to place the employee on administrative leave,” Bellevue City Manager Brad Miyake said. “We took immediate action when we learned of the allegation. The city of Bellevue takes such allegations very seriously.”
The city of Bellevue said the Bothell Police Department is conducting an investigation into the incident, and the city's Human Resources Department will conduct an internal investigation with assistance from an outside investigator.
The city did not comment on what the incident involved.
Miyake appointed Assistant Police Chief Patrick Arpin to serve as acting police chief.
Cox Media Group
