LEWISTON, ID – Lewiston Police Captain Richard “Rick” Fuentes was placed on paid administrative leave after an alleged incident that took place while he was off duty. He and his wife were among four people arrested by Coeur d’Alene Police on a misdemeanor charge after an alleged indecent exposure incident that occurred on August 18th.
“Upon careful review of information regarding the alleged incident and subsequent charge, Police Chief Kuzik recommended and Mayor Johnson approved that Fuentes be placed on administrative leave,” a press release says.
“My expectation for each member of the Lewiston Police Department is to conduct themselves in a manner that upholds the standards and expectations of the department on and off duty,” Police Chief Kuzik says.
This is not the first time Fuentes has been under scrutiny. In 2012, he nearly lost his certification after a hearing officer from the Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training program recommended that he be decertified for misconduct. A decertification hearing took place in May of that year in Lewiston for Fuentes regarding allegations of off-duty misconduct during a Halloween party that involved other LPD employees and civilians on October 30, 2010 at the Lewiston Airport.
On April 8, 2011, the POST Office of Professional Responsibility received an anonymous letter alleging improper sexual conduct by Fuentes with a female dispatcher during that private party, and that letter also questioned the internal investigation and subsequent action taken by former Lewiston Police Chief Steve Orr. Both Fuentes and the female employee received reprimands.
In the recommendation dated July 14, 2012 hearing officer Jay Rosenthal said, “Having carefully considered this matter and being fully advised in the premises, it is hereby RECOMMENDED that POST Council enter a final order for the DECERTIFICATION of Richard G. Fuentes.”
In his recommendation, Rosenthal stated: “It is clear from the testimony taken and the evidence in the record that Fuentes’ misconduct violated…portions of the Law Enforcement Code of Conduct IDAPA 11.11.01.091.04.”
He added: “Fuentes conduct tarnished the reputation of the Lewiston Police Department, undermined public trust for himself and his department and obviously caused stress and distraction within that organization.” And Rosenthal said, “I find that Fuentes short comings to be a police officer are in matters of morals, judgment, character, and self control…”
Fuentes remained on active duty during the POST investigation.
He kept his certification after the Idaho POST Council disagreed with the hearing officer’s recommendation.
