Tacoma Police Deputy Chief Paul Junger placed on administrative leave
Oct 24, 2024, 2:53 PM | Updated: 2:57 pm
The Tacoma Police Department headquarters. (Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
The Tacoma Police Department (TPD) said Thursday afternoon that Deputy Chief Paul Junger has been placed on administrative leave.
A statement sent to “The Jason Rantz Show” on AM 770 KTTH confirmed TPD Chief Avery Moore made the move, “pending the results of an investigation into an allegation made against Junger.”
The statement explained that while it is a policy of the city of Tacoma to encourage its employees to report any allegations of improper actions by officers or employees of the city, because this is a personnel issue, what the city can release to the public is limited.
A full investigation into these allegations will be conducted and any resulting disciplinary action will be shared with the public, the release sent by the city concluded.
New from Tacoma PD: “Tacoma Police Department Chief Avery Moore placed Deputy Chief Paul Junger on paid administrative leave Thursday, October 24, 2024, pending the results of an investigation into an allegation made against DC Junger. It is the policy of the City of Tacoma to… https://t.co/TqVrCWPDTX
— Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) October 24, 2024
Moore himself was placed on administrative leave last month without explanation by City Manager Elizabeth Pauli.
About a week later, Pauli reinstated Moore and explained she placed Moore on leave to investigate potential personal use of an asset belonging to the city of Tacoma and subsequent statements made relating to the use of that asset. Pauli said she concluded counseling Moore and allowed him to return to duty.
While Moore was on leave, Junger served as the interim chief.
Earlier coverage: Tacoma Police Chief Moore returns to work after being placed on leave
Before arriving in Tacoma, Moore worked for 31 years with the Dallas Police Department (DPD).
Junger has served as the TPD’s deputy chief since May 2022. He also worked for the DPD before coming to the Pacific Northwest.
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Steve Coogan is the lead editor of MyNorthwest. You can read more of his stories here. Follow Steve on X, or email him here.
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