PORT ORCHARD, Wash. — A Washington police officer has been charged with possession of a controlled substance and theft after authorities say she stole narcotics from a city's prescription drug disposal box.
Smaaladen was placed on administrative leave in November.
Police Chief Dan Schoonmaker said the conduct will not be tolerated, but described Smaaladen as an "otherwise exceptional police officer."
The Poulsbo officer is being charged with felony drug possession after surveillance video allegedly shows her taking narcotics from a box inside the police department.
KIRO 7 has learned this officer has been with the department for decades.
Schoonmker said he was "extremely shocked" to see that video.
And others in the community were surprised as well.
Investigators say the surveillance video shows Smaaladen taking narcotics that were left in this narcotics drop box at the police station.
According to court documents, Smaaladen said she located the keys to the drug depository box in a lock-box within the police department.
A Poulsbo city employee became suspicious in October after watching this surveillance video to check her timesheet.
"I reviewed that video. It certainly looked suspicious to me,” said Schoonmaker. “So the first thing that I did is contact [the] Bremerton police department. We have a really good relationship with our allied agencies."
Smaaladen was charged on Wednesday with possession of a controlled substance, morphine and third-degree theft.
Any disciplinary action by the police department can only take place after an internal investigation.
The criminal investigation must be completed first.
"Since we've just begun the internal investigation, we will see what that reveals,” said Schoonmaker.
Investigators believe Smaaladen took the drugs to supplement her legally prescribed medications she used to treat pain from injuries.
Some in the community told KIRO 7 they feel somewhat sympathetic when we told them about this crime.
"She was taking illegal drugs,” Vince Ryan, a Poulsbo native, said. “She obviously shouldn't have stolen them, but in a way you could say that she was disabled -- at least temporarily -- by her addiction."
"At this point, I think, you have to pay for the consequences to your actions," Marianne Ryan, a Poulsbo native, said.
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