Bellevue Police Chief Mylett: I did not violate the public trust

Bellevue Police Chief Steve Mylett is on paid administrative leave due to an ongoing criminal investigation. The chief has responded by saying he is confident he will be cleared of any wrongdoing.

“I’ve been on this earth for 53 years and with the exception of a traffic violation here and there I have never committed a crime in my life,” Mylett said. “So I have confidence that the Bothell Police Department will conduct a thorough investigation and get to the bottom of whatever the issue is and the truth will surface.”

“I was very shocked and concerned (when I was placed on leave) for a variety of reasons; how this was going to impact my department, my employees, the city, the community, and of course my family,” he said.

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The abrupt announcement from the City of Bellevue was short on details, only saying Chief Mylett was placed on leave Aug. 2. An allegation was recently brought to neighboring Bothell police about an “alleged incident in Bothell” that occurred more than a year ago, according to the city. Bellevue officials were soon notified, prompting the chief to be placed on leave while Bothell conducts its investigation.

“I’m not exactly sure what the allegation is, with the exception that it is a criminal allegation,” Mylett said. “I don’t know who is making the allegation, but I’m sure I will find out in the coming days when I’m sure the Bothell Police Department will want to sit down and speak with me.”

Three Bellevue police officers on leave

KIRO 7 reports that the issue stems from statements made by a victim in a case involving another Bellevue police officer — John Kivlin. Kivlin resigned from the department on Thursday. The same woman has alleged she was sexually assaulted by a third officer in the Bellevue Police Department.

A total of three Bellevue police, including Mylett, are involved in accusations in the case.

• Kivlin was recently arrested and charged with domestic violence, involving a woman he had an affair with. He is also accused of witness tampering and violating a protection order.
• The same victim in the case also accused the third Bellevue police officer of sexual assault. That officer has been on leave from the department since May, but has not been arrested or charged with a crime.
• KIRO 7’s Alison Grande further reports that the victim told investigators about “an incident with Bellevue Police Chief Steve Mylett.” The woman also said this within hundreds of text messages with Kivlin that investigators are looking through. She does not say that Mylett sexually assaulted her.
• The woman reportedly has advertised on Craigslist that she was seeking no-strings-attached sexual relationships with police officers.

Bellevue Police Department

Mylett said that being placed on leave following an allegation is city policy. He said he has “confidence in the process.”

“Whenever there is a criminal investigation underway involving a police department employee, it is our policy to place the employee on administrative leave,” Bellevue City Manager Brad Miyake said. “We took immediate action when we learned of the allegation. The City of Bellevue takes such allegations very seriously. To ensure a fair and thorough process for everyone involved, we will not provide further comment prior to the completion of the internal and external investigations.”

Assistant Police Chief Patrick Aprin will serve as acting chief while Mylett is on leave. Bellevue will begin its own investigation into the matter led by its city attorney and human resources department.

In the meantime, Mylett says he is certain that Bothell and Bellevue investigators will get to the truth of whatever allegation is waged against him.

“When I got here in 2015, I made a commitment to my employees, to the city manager of course, to city officials, and the Bellevue community that I would never do anything to violate the public trust, and I haven’t, and I would not,” Mylett said. “I would never do anything to violate the public trust.”

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