Two Bellevue Police Department officers were disciplined and one was exonerated after an off-duty incident that occurred in September during a Seattle Seahawks game.

Corporal Dion Robertson, a 22-year veteran, was demoted to officer and lost his supervisory responsibilities on the Bomb Squad which results in a significant annual loss in pay.

Officer Andy Hanke, a seven-year veteran, was given 30 days suspension from duty without pay and was removed from the Bomb Squad, also resulting in a significant loss in annual wages.

Both officers were found to have violated policies on Deportment (a manner of personal conduct/behavior), Courtesy and Code of Ethics. Officer Hanke also violated Obedience to Laws Policy.

A female detective was exonerated and cleared of all allegations.

“I am convinced that these officers have learned a very hard lesson and their actions in the future will always meet the high standards of behavior that the Bellevue community rightfully demands of their police,” said Police Chief Linda Pillo. “The discipline given to these officers is firm yet fair. After the media’s description of the events, some citizens demanded I terminate these officers. Once the facts were uncovered through a comprehensive administrative investigation conducted by the Office of Professional Standards regarding the off-duty alleged conduct, it was clear their actions, although embarrassing and disheartening, did not rise to the level of termination.”

On Sept. 16, Seattle Police contacted Pillo regarding a littering incident where Bellevue Police officers were present. After seeing a female littering, an SPD officer asked her to pick it up. The female, a City of Bellevue Utilities employee picked the item up.    Robertson and Hanke, who were with the female, used profane language while confronting the SPD officer. An SPD supervisor was called to the scene to assist with the incident.

Shortly after this incident, security was contacted inside the stadium by a ticket holder complaining about Robertson and Hanke’s offensive language used while he and his family watched the game. During this incident, the female City of Bellevue Utilities employee who littered earlier made statements identifying them as “Bellevue’s finest” and suggested to the citizen to be careful while driving in Bellevue.

Security asked them to leave the stadium. The female detective was not involved in this incident and did not make any comments to the public as previously reported by the media.

During the internal investigation, it was determined Officer Hanke drove home under the influence of alcohol, the Bellevue Police Department reporter, adding that the investigation could not determine his level of intoxication and that there was no forensic evidence of his level of intoxication when he operated the vehicle.

The lack of evidence precluded a criminal prosecution, the department noted. The department that the same standard and rules of evidence would be applied to any member of the public. However, Chief Pillo found in the Civil Investigation that Hanke drove while intoxicated violating Obedience of Laws Policy.

The officers statements

I want to sincerely apologize to the citizens and police department of the City of Seattle, the citizens and fellow officers of Bellevue, and to the staff and fans at CenturyLink Field for my actions on September 16, 2012.

My behavior was inappropriate, disrespectful and lacked the professionalism you expect from me in my position. I deeply regret the negative impact this has had on my fellow law enforcement officers and the citizens we serve.

Please accept my apologies and know I vow to always uphold the values of the Bellevue Police Department both on and off duty.

Officer A. Hanke

To the Seattle Police Department, Bellevue Police Department, citizens of Seattle, Bellevue and to Law Enforcement professionals. I want to express my humble apologies to all involved for my inexcusable behavior on September 16. I was completely out of line and not behaving in a manner anyone should.

While I cannot change the past, I can let you know I have taken complete responsibility and taken the positive life changes to make sure it never happens again. I am very sorry to have put all of you through this incident.

Most sincerely,

Corporal Dion Hanke

Bellevue Police Department