Pat Fitzpatrick, city of Kent chief administrative officer. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent

Pat Fitzpatrick, city of Kent chief administrative officer. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent

Kent city administrator to decide whether to uphold firing of police officer

Pat Fitzpatrick will issue decision in a couple of weeks about Officer Michael Morfoot

An initial decision about whether to uphold the firing of Kent Police Officer Michael Morfoot is expected within the next couple of weeks.

Pat Fitzpatrick, city of Kent chief administrative officer, held a grievance hearing Sept. 7. Morfoot is fighting his firing in July by Police Chief Rafael Padilla. Morfoot’s grievance to object to his firing was filed with Fitzpatrick by the Kent Police Officers Association, the local union.

“I have not made a determination or issued a decision and won’t for a couple of weeks,” Fitzpatrick said in a Sept. 8 email in response to a Kent Reporter email with questions about the case. “Until then, I am not willing to comment.”

Padilla fired Morfoot after he told staff during a response call to The BLVD Apartments on the West Hill after they reported trespassers to exact “street justice; whoop their ass and swing a big bat,” rather than calling police for assistance.

Apartment staff filed a complaint with the police department, which led to an internal investigation of Morfoot. Because of the incident and six previous disciplinary actions or investigations against Morfoot during his 21 years with the department, Padilla fired him, according to police records obtained by the Kent Reporter through a public records request.

Padilla fired Morfoot July 21, 2023, for conduct unbecoming, a violation of the department’s code of conduct policy.

Following Fitzpatrick’s decision, the case could potentially go to an arbitrator with the Washington State Public Employment Relations Commission, Padilla said. That agency oversees public employee labor-management disputes, including the termination of police officers.

Morfoot told Padilla, during his interview to investigate the incident, that his statements were made out of frustration because staff at the apartments had not taken adequate steps, in his opinion, to dissuade trespassers from reentering the property, according to the notice of discipline document. He also was frustrated by the state Legislature limiting officers in their ability to do their jobs. He claimed he was not intending to incite violence.

“Regardless of your intent, your willful and reckless statements evidence shockingly poor judgment on your part, which has been a recurrent problem in each of your prior disciplinary matters,” Padilla wrote in Morfoot’s disciplinary document. “Additionally, had staff at The BLVD Apartments or their temporary employees acted on your reckless statements, the city would have been exposed to potential civil liability, and you could have exposed yourself to potential criminal liability.”

Padilla wrote that despite his 21 years of experience with the department, Morfoot failed to take steps where he could have arrested the trespassers and instead argued that the laws did not give him the tools to do so.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

File Photo, Sound Publishing
Kent-based Puget Sound Fire offers town hall about wildfires

Residents can learn how to prepare for fast-moving wildfires near homes during May 14 event

Chase Jones and his attorney Brad Barshis reading Jones’ statement to the judge. Photo by Joshua Solorzano/Sound Publishing
Man who killed four in Renton crash sentenced to over 17 years in prison

The prosecutor reported that he was traveling at 112 miles per hour when he crashed into the victims.

t
Three Kent men honored by state during fallen worker ceremony

One died falling from Seattle bridge; two others were fatally shot

City of Kent Corrections Facility, 1230 Central Ave. S. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent
Medical examiner identifies woman found dead in city of Kent jail

Cause and manner of death are pending for 45-year-old woman

File Photo, Kent Reporter
Large Kent Police response finds no weapon threats on Central Avenue

About a dozen police vehicles arrived in 700 block of Central Ave. S. Thursday, April 24

U.S. District Courthouse in Seattle. COURTESY PHOTO, USDOJ
Kent man pleads guilty to federal drug trafficking charges

Part of international drug ring that distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine

Kent School Board members Tim Clark and Meghin Margel. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Kent School Board recall group files for reconsideration

Petitioners take next step after judge dismissed petitions to recall Meghin Margel, Tim Clark

t
Future female firefighters learn key skills at workshop

32 women participate in firefighting, emergency medical services training

t
Kent pedestrian killed in April 21 crash identified

Vicente Islas Gomez, 50, died of multiple blunt force injuries along Central Avenue South

Courtesy File Photo, WSDOT
Section of State Route 167 in Kent to be fully closed night of April 24

From 10 p.m. Thursday, April 24 to 4 a.m. Friday, April 25 between S. 180th Street and S. 212th Street

t
Kent man wanted in DV incident reportedly ‘has left the area’

Avon Cobb still on the run; flashbang device might have caused fire at Auburn business where he fled

Courtesy Photo, Comcast
Some Comcast, Xfinity Business customers lose service in Kent

Vandals damage cable line; service expected to be restored by 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 22