Bellevue Police Dept980
Two high-ranking members of the Bellevue Police Department have been demoted for hiding an extramarital affair that went on for eight months. (KIRO Radio/Linda Thomas)

'My life is ruined': Affair rocks Bellevue PD command staff

BY Brandi Kruse  on January 8, 2013 @ 12:25 pm (Updated: 4:10 pm - 1/8/13 )

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Two high-ranking members of the Bellevue Police Department have been demoted for hiding an extramarital affair that went on for eight months and included sexual encounters on training trips, according to documents obtained by KIRO Radio.

As The Seattle Times first reported Tuesday, Maj. John Manning and Capt. Autumn Fowler have both been demoted to the rank of lieutenant and will no longer serve on the department's command staff.

"Demotion to a non-command staff rank is the only real alternative in the face of such longstanding deception, erosion of trust, and flagrant disregard for the interests of the Department," Police Chief Linda Pillo wrote in an internal memo.

"This was not a momentary lapse in judgment. You chose your personal wants and needs over the Department's for eight months," she said.

According to a Washington State Patrol investigation, the relationship began in January 2012 and was exposed in August by a fellow police captain, who had reportedly been in a long-term dating relationship with Fowler.

The captain, who often stopped by Fowler's home in the evenings, found Manning naked in Fowler's closet.

"(The captain) stated it was evident to him Manning and Fowler had engaged in sexual relations that evening," according to the report.

He reported the relationship to Chief Pillo and Manning's wife.

The department said Tuesday that the discipline is not a result of the affair itself, but that the two violated policies that require them to report such relationships to their superiors.

"Professionally your options were clear cut and simple: report the relationship or not engage in it," Pillo wrote. According to Pillo, Fowler had previously been counseled about separating her personal life from her professional relationships.

The state patrol investigation stated that Manning was extremely distraught after his relationship with Fowler was exposed.

"I just (explicative)up my life," he reportedly said. "My life is ruined. I screwed everything up."

Manning told investigators that his sexual relationship with Fowler began in January 2012 during a training trip to Durham, North Carolina. He said sexual encounters also took place while the two were at an FBI Academy board meeting in Chelan in April and a training trip in Spokane in June.

"Manning explained the physical relationship continued until late June 2012 and during that time he communicated with Fowler on and off duty via text message, phone calls, work email, personal email, and face-to-face conversations," the report said. "Manning said he went to great lengths to hide his relationship from his wife; therefore, he deleted messages from his phone so he did not get caught."

Chief Pillo said fallout from their actions will impact the department "for years to come."

The incident comes a month after two other Bellevue police officers were disciplined for drunken and disorderly behavior at a Seattle Seahawks game.

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
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Comments (53)


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  • hpygolkyone wrote...
    Dude!.................
    January 8, 2013 12:11 pm
    You were fourth from the top of the food chain before they caught you boning this person.

    I hope she was worth it!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • R L M 456 wrote...
    The captain, who often stopped by Fowler's home in the evenings, found Manning naked in Fowler's closet.
    January 9, 2013 7:59 am
    What a cartoon act

    Think I will just swing by my jilted lovers house

    and search her closets

    broke the code

    bros before Ho's

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • murr wrote...
    on going ??????
    January 8, 2013 12:13 pm
    I wish they would clean this stuff from the inside. See this word DECEPTION ???????
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dexterjibs wrote...
    The female sounds
    January 8, 2013 12:25 pm
    like she is a real nymph. I bet she is hot.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    Brandi do you get to look into windows? . . . .
    January 8, 2013 12:27 pm
    lets put BK under cover(under the cover) in a sting. make sure you tape it. code word he's in.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dori monson fan wrote...
    impact the dept for years to come?
    January 8, 2013 12:27 pm
    how so? is bpd that fragile? it will and should impact the families of those involved, but beyond that why will this impact the entire dept through 2015?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DoriFan5000 wrote...
    Agreed
    January 9, 2013 11:52 am
    Why does this impact the entire BPD? Really? For that matter, why is this even news? Hopefully the parties involved (or their families) don't physically hurt themselves as a result of all this. I usually like what Dori & Jake talk about but, but this is a little too TMZ...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Burn_Notice wrote...
    Where do I sign up?
    January 8, 2013 12:41 pm
    I want to work for the Bellevue PD. Sex with fellow officers and rowdy alcohol filled times at Seahawk games! Woot! Count me in! I feel bad for all the good officers at the BPD some of your fellow brethren in blue are making you look like S. Oh BTW, how is that Sky Metalwala case coming along? Any hot leads? How about stop screwing around and arrest the mother for at least filing a false police report!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sportsguru wrote...
    Oh boy,
    January 8, 2013 12:53 pm
    It's sad just how bad our police department nation wide has become. They have become the laughing stock all over the country. Why would your respect the POLICE!!!!! WHY?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Nervoso wrote...
    Sounds like a good ol time over at the Bellevue Police Dept
    January 8, 2013 1:05 pm
    Everyone's getting hammered drunk at Football games, driving home drunk and banging each other. No wonder there is no time to investigate home robberies or theft.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zoeller wrote...
    Ha Ha Ha........
    January 8, 2013 1:24 pm
    Just more Bellevue’s finest! I just feel sorry for all of the good cop’s that might work there.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Wy to Go BPD
    January 8, 2013 1:38 pm
    Nothing like violating the public trust on a monthly basis. Pathetic!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }