POULSBO — Officer Ricki Sabado is retiring from the Poulsbo Police Department effective June 26.
Sabado submitted an intent-to-retire letter to Police Chief Alan Townsend 10 days after he was placed on paid administrative leave. The officer was placed on leave while the department determined whether he knew anything about his wife and son’s alleged behavior before their separate arrests for DUI and trafficking in stolen property.
“The investigation had not reached a point where there was a finding,” Townsend told the Herald. “However, based upon updates by those investigating I suspect it would have resulted in some disciplinary action.”
Townsend said he and Sabado had a discussion about the directions the investigation could go. “His intent was originally to retire in about another year,” Townsend told the Herald. “This really was his decision but I did spell out how the process would run its course. I think he felt that it was better to spend his time and energy on his family needs and not on this matter here. I think that was a good decision.”
Because he’s retiring, the investigation is over, Townsend said.
“[T]he internal matters for which we were investigating will stop,” Townsend told the Herald. “The purpose of those investigations were to determine if he violated any policies or procedures of the department and then to determine what disciplinary action would be taken if appropriate. With his retirement there is no reason to further continue with those administrative investigations.”
Sabado continues to be off the job, using banked vacation days until June 26, Townsend said.
Sabado, 61, has been a Poulsbo police officer for 29 years. He was placed on administrative leave May 21. He submitted his retirement letter May 31. Townsend sent him a letter the next week accepting his retirement, according to city Human Resources Manager Deanna Kingery said. Sabado and Townsend had an exit conference June 12, followed by a meeting regarding retirement benefits, and the city announced Sabado’s retirement June 14.
The Herald called and left a message on Sabado’s phone message system June 14 at 2:50 p.m.
Meanwhile, the city is recruiting for a new police officer.
Sabado’s son, Favian, 26, is due in court July 23, 8:30 a.m., on a felony charge of trafficking in stolen property. He was arrested and booked into Kitsap County Jail May 14 and was released about a week later on $5,000 bail. He is being represented by William Houser, a public defender.
A Poulsbo police officer investigating a vehicle prowl and theft of tools found Favian Sabado’s name on a receipt at Junction Variety Mall May 14, showing he sold a chainsaw to the store on April 24, according to the police report. The same model of chainsaw had been reported stolen on Bainbridge Island April 24 and, according to the police report, Favian Sabado’s friend is a suspect in that theft.
The officer contacted Favian Sabado, who said he went to the store with a friend and sold the chainsaw for him but didn’t know it was stolen, according to the report.
On May 17, Kristie D. Sabado, 55, was arrested by Washington State Patrol on suspicion of driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor and/or drugs after her Ford Explorer flipped and crashed near her home on Fjord Drive near Sommerseth Street.
Witnesses said Mrs. Sabado was driving south on Fjord Drive when her car went off the roadway, narrowly missed a parked car, struck a whiskey-barrel planter, sideswiped a telephone pole and then flipped onto its top and skidded across the roadway. Mrs. Sabado was alone in the vehicle when the crash occurred, according to law enforcement reports. The crash was reported at 4:38 p.m.
Mrs. Sabado failed a field sobriety test. “Her actions were slow and lethargic,” a police sergeant reported. “Her speech was slow as well. I also noticed her pupils were extremely small.” Because there was no odor of alcohol, Washington State Patrol was called in to determine if she was impaired.
Washington State Patrol spokesman Russ Winger said it could take several weeks to receive blood test results. He said the prosecuting attorney would make the decision as to whether any charges are filed.
According to Poulsbo Police reports, Mrs. Sabado’s car was the same car that was reported at 4:28 p.m. “driving over curbs” and nearly missing other vehicles while pulling into the Central Market parking lot. A sergeant investigating that report at the parking lot was dispatched “a minute or so later” to the crash scene.
Asked for her account of what happened, Mrs. Sabado said in an earlier interview, “I crashed my car,” adding that she couldn’t talk because the crash is the subject of an ongoing investigation.
Officer Sabado, who was on duty at the time of the crash, went to the scene, but the sergeant sent him away because the scene involved an investigation of a family member, Townsend said.
