A Bellingham Police Department investigation concluded that one of its detectives used the department’s dry cleaning services “far greater than the allotted amount,” a violation of BPD’s standards of conduct and a possible crime, according to a letter from the Whatcom County prosecutor.
Summarizing the conclusion of the BPD investigation into Det. Adam (Bo) McGinty, Prosecutor Eric Richey’s Friday, July 21 letter says the city’s accounting department found two detectives, including McGinty, were using dry cleaning services in excess of the one-uniform-per-week allotment officers are allowed under their collective bargaining agreement with the city.
The second detective is not named in the prosecutor’s letter. “It was determined that Det. McGinty had used another detective’s name to obtain additional dry cleaning services,” Richey’s letter said.
“The administrative investigation concluded that Det. McGinty violated the state law of theft, that he misappropriated or misused public funds and that he engaged in conduct that was criminal, dishonest or disgraceful,” the letter said.
McGinty could not be immediately reached for comment.
In an email on Monday, July 24, Bellingham Deputy Chief Don Almer said he couldn’t comment on how long McGinty was using more than his share of dry cleaning services, or the dollar value of those services, citing an ongoing criminal investigation by the Mount Vernon Police Department.
Mount Vernon Lt. Mike Moore said Monday the investigation was ongoing and declined to comment further.
Almer said he will complete a report on the administrative investigation in the next two weeks, or possibly longer. The report goes to Police Chief Rebecca Mertzig, who will decide whether to discipline McGinty.
“Det. McGinty is afforded due process rights like any other person, and that also extends the timeline,” Almer said.
McGinty was investigating a high-profile case against three administrators at Bellingham Public Schools but was abruptly taken off the case and placed on leave on June 7. The administrators were charged with failure to report claims that a student had been sexually assaulted.
The prosecutor’s letter served to notify defense attorneys that McGinty could be impeached as a witness in future court cases.
Almer explained that McGinty’s potential impeachment means that any testimony he provides in court as a witness for the prosecution may be compromised, based on “a poor reputation for truthfulness” or other factors.
