A Bellingham police officer accused of domestic abuse will not face charges after the Skagit County Prosecutor’s Office did not find enough evidence of any criminal acts or behavior.
Joshua McKissick’s case was referred to Branden Platter, the senior deputy prosecuting attorney in Skagit County, on May 8 by the Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office.
“I reviewed the entire fire for any charges of harassment or sexual assault as those were the allegations being made,” Platter wrote in an email to CDN, adding he also met with the alleged victim.
As a result of not finding any criminal acts of behavior, Platter informed the Lynden Police Department and the Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday, May 21, about his decision.
McKissick, 44, was placed under investigation by the Lynden Police Department related to allegations of domestic abuse in late 2023 and was immediately put on administrative desk duty by BPD. He was moved to administrative leave on Feb. 27, after the department learned of a domestic violence protection order and an order to surrender firearms and other deadly weapons.
He is still on paid administrative leave as the internal administrative investigation continues, according to Janice Keller, the communications director for the City of Bellingham.
The victim alleged in court documents McKissick had a history of sexual abuse and that he had threatened to put one of her children in juvenile detention, making her fear for her safety and the safety of her children.
Whatcom County Prosecutor Eric Richey wrote in an email to CDN that after he had learned about a conflict in his office, he requested the case be referred to the Skagit County Prosecutor’s Office.
Two court hearings were postponed in March and April. McKissick’s attorney, Jason Powers, told CDN in March that the postponement was necessary “to be able to respond to these unproven allegations that stem from an acrimonious divorce” process.
The decision to decline to file charges comes two days ahead of when McKissick is expected to appear in Whatcom Superior Court for a permanent protection order hearing.
McKissick had been with BPD since 2007 and served as a member of the city’s SWAT team. In 2019, he became a neighborhood police officer and provided a number of safety-related training, including de-escalation training, active shooter response and workplace and personal safety training. He was promoted from corporal to sergeant in spring 2021.
Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.
