Challenges possible in police chief firing appeal

MATTAWA — Attorneys for the city of Mattawa and former Mattawa Police Chief Joe Harris have until June 21 to file requests to disqualify Mattawa Civil Service commissioners who are scheduled to hear an appeal of Harris’ firing.

The three commissioners, Jesse Chiprez, Amanda Perez and Olga Sanchez, declined to disqualify themselves during a June 1 commission meeting.

Harris was fired by Mattawa Mayor Maria Celaya April 10. He filed an appeal, and the first step in the appeal is a hearing before the city’s civil service commission. How the appeal will proceed was discussed during the June 1 meeting.

Harris’ attorney Bill Gilbert said in a previous interview he planned to file an appeal to disqualify two of the commissioners for conflicts of interest. During the hearing, Seann Mumford, representing the city, said he, too, planned to file an appeal to disqualify commissioners, but he didn’t specify who or how many.

Mumford did not return phone calls asking for more information.

Gilbert said during the June 1 meeting commissioners should be asked if they thought they should disqualify themselves. Mumford said he thought that was a reasonable request.

In response, Chiprez said he thought he was completely unbiased, and that it was appropriate for him to be included. Perez said she, too, was unbiased, and thought she should be part of the process. Sanchez also said she was unbiased.

If two of the three commissioners are removed, the case couldn’t be heard due to the lack of a quorum. Replacements would have to be appointed by the Mattawa City Council or the Grant County Superior Court.