OAK HARBOR, Wash. — A gun lost by a North Sound police chief who left it in a grocery store bathroom last month was turned in by a citizen Thursday night.
The Oak Harbor police chief received a written reprimand for the incident.
Chief Ed Green is a 30-year police veteran who worked for the LAPD and as second in command under the chief in Port Townsend.
He's worked in gang suppression and undercover. That's why the man who hired him to run Oak Harbor's police department in 2012, Scott Dudley, said the city was lucky to get him.
"I've been very, very pleased with what he's done for the city of Oak Harbor, making us safer," the former Oak Harbor mayor explained.
He said that's also why what happened inside Saar's Market Place off Highway 20 March 4 was extremely out of character for Green and an honest mistake.
"Come to find out, we're all human and we all make mistakes, and I'm sure he feels terrible, I'm sure he feels awful," Dudley said.
We tried to talk to Green, but he told us by phone that he didn't want to do an interview. So former Mayor Dudley spoke on his behalf; he said when Green took over the department the city's crime rate dropped.
"The neighborhood watch program was something that went by the wayside before, so he brought that from nothing up to at least 21 watch programs or block captains," Dudley told us.
After leaving his .40 caliber Glock inside the store restroom, Dudley said Green did everything right.
He realized what happened about 30 minutes later and called the store immediately, informed city officials, and filed a police report.
Still, the current mayor said in a news release Green received a written reprimand. Dudley hopes the criticism stops there.
"For those of us who know his history, know his background, know what he stands for, it's short-lived," Dudley concluded.
As a result of the news release and media coverage, a local Oak Harbor resident contacted the police department Thursday night saying they had the gun and wanted to turn it in.
The police department is now in possession of the weapon.
Cox Media Group
