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)


  • Add A Comment

  • dori monson fan wrote...
    it's not over until the fat lawyer sings
    January 9, 2013 9:39 am
    we won't know who the winners and losers are for a while. "my life is ruined" translates in government speak to "I am going to sue the taxpayers, and most likely win a fat settlement."
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Nervoso wrote...
    The Bellevue Washington Police Bridgade
    January 9, 2013 10:48 am
    "To Penetrate and Service..."
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HLC wrote...
    I hope that cull Manning is a young boy.
    January 9, 2013 11:22 am
    A decent lawyer and his wife owns his pension. I'm assumeing she kicks the fool to the curb. I wonder if the other wives go to Pillo so see if their husbands are having a department sanctioned affair.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    WWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    January 9, 2013 11:32 am
    i was being bad and i got caught.

    pooooooorrr meeeeee!

    if ONLY it could all have been avoided!!!

    oh...wait...

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    we won't know who the winners and losers are for a while . . . .
    January 9, 2013 12:28 pm
    not true. the losers list is out. your name is on it. why are laughing BLAW your on it too!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    now can we call the BPD gang 'bangers' . . . .
    January 9, 2013 12:28 pm
    now?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Theodorethegreat wrote...
    Not at all surprised
    January 9, 2013 4:10 pm
    happening in 100 of depts. COPs are people too. Bellingham has the same interdept bang party happening; numerous cheating. Fowler must be a hot item; gotta chick her out.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hpygolkyone wrote...
    Don't Waste Your Time, Teddy.........
    January 9, 2013 7:17 pm
    Nothing to see here people, move along.

    I think the thing that has the swingin dicks lining up 10 deep is the fact that she is bangin the whole team.

    I mean, what the he11.......she's got a guy walking through the front door unannounced to drill her silly, while another guy is hiding in her closet after playing hide the salami.

    Sounds like she needs one of those "take a number" thingies that they have at the DMV on the front of her house.

    She obviously needs some more management skills as her schedules with her "service people" are in conflict.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    bill law is gay?
    January 9, 2013 7:40 pm
    I never would have thought it! From the retirement home in Sequim reports come that he's in diapers and has to be fed with a straw. He probably likes having his diapers changed, eh, bill?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Concerned US Citizen wrote...
    The Head
    January 10, 2013 5:01 am
    Ahh the head with no brains strikes again. It will be with the department for years to come. Let's hope it is and is a reminder to keep one's pants zipped.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }