Palin denies role in trooper flap
Published Friday, July 18, 2008
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS -- Gov. Sarah Palin has sharply denied claims by a former Republican gubernatorial rival who says the governor misused her office to try to force the firing of an Alaska State Trooper who is embroiled in a divorce dispute with the governor’s sister. That supposed intervention, according to former lawmaker and gubernatorial candidate Andrew Halcro, is what led to the July 11 firing of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.
Monegan, according to an unsourced version of events Halcro posted on his Web site, refused to fire the trooper.
“To allege that I, or any member of my family, requested, received or released confidential personnel information on an Alaska State Trooper, or directed disciplinary action be taken against any employee of the Department of Public Safety, is, quite simply, outrageous,” the governor said in a statement released Thursday evening. “Any information regarding personnel records came from the trooper himself. I question the timing of these false allegations. It is unfortunate, as we seek to address a growing energy crisis in this state, that this matter has been raised now.
“I do not interfere with the day-to-day operations of any department. Former Commissioner Monegan was not released due to any actions or inaction related to personnel issues in his department.”
Monegan, former chief of the Anchorage Police Department, said his firing was unexpected. Palin’s chief of staff reportedly informed him of the governor’s decision.
“If the governor was upset with me for one thing or another, it had never been communicated to me,” he told the Anchorage Daily News the day after the firing.
The governor has said only, through a spokeswoman, that Monegan was released because she “felt there needed to be a change in the direction in management at DPS and she decided to move forward.”
Community Discussion
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hmmmmm.............scum bags protecting scum bags....that neeeeever happens. LOL
as a caviote I would like to say there are SOME good cops out there.
Please don't take this is an insult. You've got internet access. If you're unsure of how to spell a word, just open up a window to dictionary.com and find out.
I don't understand the fuss, this is a "at will state" Many Alaskans are fired for any or no reason. It's the same with the state employees that serve at the pleasure of any governor no matter who it is. All of a sudden it's wrong... Wake up people, check the laws of this state.
I guess I am just not understanding why Halcro is involved. You lost buddy... get over it. All the clever ads and mud slinging won't get you into the Gov's office.
How did this guy not lose his job as a state trooper after using a taser on his 11 year old son?
That would have brought child abuse charges and a OCS investigation for almost everyone else
It would be even nicer if the Governor would be open and transparent about the motivations for firing Commissioner Monegan. Even if you completely disregard the issue with the former brother-in-law, don't you think the issue with Kopp should be investigated just a bit further? Perhaps there is nothing there, but the Legislature does confirm these positions.
Finally a story in the DNM on this important news item. So far HE is seemingly the only one who gets it. The issue is not whether Wooten is a scumbag, maybe he is that's not the point.
Our governer who built her candidacy on being open and transparent has seemingly turned secretive and duplicitous. She's using her position as governor to act like a petulant HS cheerleader and settle a private score. Worse she's asked a commissioner to be complicit in this HS like drama. Sarah P needs to offer an explanation for firing the DPS commissioner that makes sense. And yes the DNM had this correct in an editiorial several days ago. This firing of Monegan smelled fishy from the getgo. She needs to walk the walk.
Heath and Skin-
Don't you know you're not supposed to criticize the governor because she's pretty and might be giving us money?
ps I usually don't post twice in the same topic but read the letter from the Kenai City Attorney to the victim of the new DPS commissioner's unwanted advances. it's posted on the ADN website. The new DPS commish is a real winner. Here's the link..
http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/18/1...
Imusuallyright -
Are you one of the few who hasn't drank the poisoned palinade?
Heath-
Yep, it's true. I hear the beverage is "sparkling"-- just like Palin, but that's just not enough to make it seem appetizing.
Small-
Read it again. She stated that was NOT the reason Monegan was released. You can't have it both ways.
How can this person still be a trooper? I checked the state employee web site and he is... So, he is out arresting people for the same thing he is doing? This isn't the first time I have seen this either. I know of a trooper who was caught forging prescriptions for narcotics (and driving under the influence of them) and he was never charged, yet, if the average citizen was caught doing that or assaulting their wives and kids or driving while drunk, etc,etc they would be looked upon as criminals and low lifes. Equal justice for all.... my butt!
If a cop gets caught breaking the law, they should be charged and tried like everybody else, not given special treatment. I guess trooper Wooten has it right, he CAN get away with anything.
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