Documents from the state Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) recently received by The Chronicle shed light on former Morton Police Chief Roger Morningstar’s reasons for resigning from the department earlier this month.
Namely, the documents indicate Morningstar was allowed to tender his resignation in lieu of termination after he failed a polygraph exam conducted as part of an internal investigation into multiple complaints.
“Officer Morningstar was the subject of a sexual harassment complaint, which led to other complaints, including but not limited to the misuse of public funds, conduct unbecoming an officer, and other allegations related to sexual activities while on duty,” reads a statement included in Morningstar’s notice of officer separation form, which was submitted by the City of Morton to the CJTC. Use of force and sexual harassment were among the alleged forms of misconduct, according to the form.
“Officer submitted to a polygraph exam and failed the exam. Was offered the opportunity to resign in lieu of termination, which he accepted. The investigation is not yet complete,” the form reads.
Morton Mayor Dan Mortensen, who declined The Chronicle’s request to comment on Friday, signed the form on June 12.
Morningstar formally tendered his resignation on Friday, June 2, but did not surrender his certification as part of his resignation, according to the CJTC.
He was placed on administrative leave when the City of Morton opened its internal investigation on May 15.
Mortensen previously told The Chronicle there will be more information released on the investigation when it is completed.
On May 11, a few days before the City of Morton opened its own internal investigation, CJTC closed an investigation into a complaint filed against Morningstar on March 23 and referred the findings to the Morton Police Department.
CJTC currently has two open investigations into complaints made against Morningstar in 2023, according to the organization’s website. One of those complaints was filed Jan. 24 and the second was filed April 6.
The Chronicle did not have access to the details of those complaints as of Friday afternoon.
“We do not oversee employment practices, including administrative leave being imposed on officers during an investigation. That authority sits with the agency and their internal policies,” CJTC Communications Manager Megan Saunders said in an email to The Chronicle in response to an inquiry on March 7.
Morningstar was hired in December 2016, the same time Mortensen, the previous police chief, retired.
The mayor previously told The Chronicle Morningstar being placed on leave was not related to investigations into his alleged affiliations with far-right groups.
The mayor also previously said the investigation was not related to citizen claims Morningstar delayed an investigation into a rape case in Morton which reportedly took place in August 2022. At the time, Morningstar claimed his office was “diligently” investigating the incident, according to previous Chronicle reporting.
The Morton Police Department had two full-time employees and fewer than five active reserve officers as of June 5.
The neighboring City of Mossyrock and the Town of Pe Ell both contract with Morton for police services.
With Morningstar’s resignation, Mortensen said the mayors of both towns are aware that services may be affected, and that the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office was stepping in for help, according to previous Chronicle reporting.
