Records released by the city of Bellevue on Tuesday reveal that the demotion of the longtime deputy chief of police came after months of unacceptable performance and a tension-filled exchange regarding the city’s False Alarm Reduction Program and criticism of a city council member.
Former Deputy Chief Jim Jolliffe, who was demoted to a Bellevue police captain on April 15, was found to have violated several city, police department and other policies over several months. Police Chief Steven Mylett and Jolliffe’s subordinates also observed him to have a lack of interest in his duties, issues with credibility and overall said he behaved unprofessionally, according to the investigation documents.
Such issues are notable in a department that has been the recipient of negative attention due to several high-profile incidents and firings involving longtime officers.
The documents released on April 26 outline several complaints against Jolliffe, beginning after Mylett took office in April 2015.
As has been previously reported, Jolliffe — who has been with the Bellevue Police Department for 25 years — was an early finalist for the chief position, but ultimately did not get the job.
According to a memorandum that Mylett compiled, there has been a “continuing pattern of disrespectful and insolent behavior” on Jolliffe’s part over the last year.
Mylett recounted how, shortly after joining the department, he sat down with Jolliffe on two occasions to discuss the latter’s short- and long-term career goals. During these meetings, Jolliffe was reportedly unprofessional and told the chief that he knew, but did not care that his subordinates viewed him as being disconnected, hurt by his failed path to the chief position, has issues with credibility and that he “takes care of his buddies.”
While Mylett reported noticing a short-lived improvement in Jolliffe’s performance, he continued to speak curtly and unprofessionally towards not only his superior, but also other city employees, the documents continue.
After a city attorney requested his assistance on July 2015, Jolliffe reportedly responded by rebuking and chastising her in an aggressive tone, creating further tension between the police and other city departments.
“You sent this email knowing full well that I was attempting to re-establish a positive working relationship with both city Legal and the Human Resources Department,” Mylett wrote.
But a November 2015 incident, during which a third party investigator determined Jolliffe broke several policies, solidified his demotion.
The police department launched an investigation into Jolliffe’s behavior following an email exchange in which Jolliffe undermined the alarm program’s viability, spoke in a condescending manner toward his subordinate, failed to provide counsel or constructive feedback and spoke critically of a Bellevue city council member with said subordinate, according to the documents.
During an exchange with Police Major Pat Spak, the major spoke critically of Bellevue City Councilmember Jennifer Robertson, apparently not realizing several of his subordinates were included on the email thread. Jolliffe reportedly supported Spak’s negative characterization of the council member, failed to correct Spak’s actions and caused Spak to believe that Mylett was angry with the major.
It was also later determined that Jolliffe regularly deleted his correspondence with coworkers and employees on his city-issued cell phone, in violation of city policies.
Mylett reportedly contemplated terminating Jolliffe. He has since said that he has confidence in Jolliffe’s abilities as a law enforcement officer, although his memorandum to Jolliffe states that this is the captain’s last chance.
Jolliffe is appealing the decision. Given the ongoing proceedings, the police department has declined to comment further.
