Moscow City Supervisor Gary Riedner said Wednesday the Nez Perce County Sheriff's Office is investigating allegations of a drug cover-up at the volunteer fire department.
Complaints filed with the city by volunteer firefighters Bonnie Shambaugh and Emily Kimberling allege they found suspected drugs and paraphernalia in a resident firefighter's desk Feb. 14. They say they were told to "treat the drugs like a bottle of whiskey, and give (the firefighter) the opportunity to get rid of it," by on-duty fire command officer Dan Carscallen under orders by Fire Chief Ed Button.
Shambaugh and Kimberling also allege they felt intimidated and threatened to keep quiet during meetings they had separately with Carscallen and Button the day after the incident.
When the Daily News first reported the complaints, Riedner said the personnel matter had been resolved. He said Wednesday he had since discussed the issue with Moscow Police Chief David Duke and city attorney Randy Fife.
"We decided to have an outside agency take a look at it, and so David asked the Nez Perce County Sheriff's Office to do it, and they said they would do so, and it is under way," Riedner said. "We did the personnel action ... but we wanted to make sure we had done everything and looked at it from every point of view that we needed to."
Button said he welcomes the investigation.
"I've already been interviewed, and my reaction to it is I welcome the whole thing," he said. "From my standpoint, I've been accused of performing a cover-up and that's not the truth."
While he maintains he wanted the suspected drugs and paraphernalia out of the station, Button said he never ordered it destroyed nor did he ignore the incident.
He said the firefighter alleged to have been in possession of drugs was tested the next day. Following that, Button said he informed Riedner, Duke, Fife and then the Moscow Volunteer Fire Department board of directors a few days later.
"That is not a cover-up, that is informing all the proper authorities," said Button. "I never instructed anyone at any time to destroy the contents of that bottle."
Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney said she became aware of the incident from Riedner on March 5.
"The information at that time was vague," she said. "The particulars were not known."
Chaney said she asked that Duke be informed.
"I absolutely support the investigation," she said.
Button said to his knowledge all parties involved in the incident have been interviewed by the sheriff's office. Nez Perce County Sheriff Dale Buttrey could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Copyright 2012 - Moscow-Pullman Daily News, Moscow, Idaho
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
