Trooper to be terminated by State Patrol

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The Washington State Patrol has decided to fire Trooper Christopher Daigle, once a Jefferson County resident, who has been on home assignment since February 2019 while undergoing an internal investigation into his conduct.

Dailge is accused of having a sexual and improper relationship with a girl starting when she was 15.

The age of consent in Washington State is 16 years old.

Daigle will continue receiving his $7,000 per month salary as he attempts to appeal the decision, which his Sequim lawyer William Payne said he believes Daigle will do.

There are several routes the termination process could take, Sgt. Darren Wright said.

How Daigle and WSP officials choose to proceed will dictate how long the process will be.

Until a final decision is made, findings of the internal investigation into Daigle’s conduct and the agency’s reasons for dismissal will remain confidential, Wright said.

Daigle is one of three WSP troopers currently on a lengthy home assignment while undergoing an investigation, according to internal WSP documents obtained by The Leader in a public records request.

The cost to taxpayers of each trooper’s salary over their months of home assignment is more than $200,000.

Troopers Erik Rasmussen and Seth Jones have similarly been on home assignment for an extended time.

Rasmussen has been on home assignment since December 2018, while receiving his $7,642 monthly salary.

Jones has been on home assignment since October 2018, while receiving his monthly salary of $6,287.

There is no update as to when either of these investigations will end, Wright said.