Only July 6^th, 2020, the King County Sheriff’s Office initiated an internal investigation after receiving an unprecedented number of complaints from community members regarding social media posts made by former detective Michael Brown.

On November 9^th, Michael Brown exercised his right, per a collective bargaining agreement, to an in-person hearing with Sheriff Mitzi G Johanknecht to provide his perspective. The discipline proposed to the Sheriff was termination of Brown’s employment with the King County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Johanknecht, following a thoughtful and comprehensive review of the facts of this investigation, concluded the posts, and the overwhelming negative response, “badly damaged confidence and trust in the Sheriff’s Office.” The Sheriff further noted, “Several of your posts endorsed and advocated unnecessary/excessive use of force and violence. They demonstrated extreme indifference to life and racial equity.”

Concluding Mr. Brown could no longer effectively serve as a law enforcement officer, Sheriff Johanknecht decided to terminate Brown’s employment, effective today, February 12^th, 2021.

Sheriff Johanknecht’s Final Loudermill Results letter, including her detailed analysis, is below. Brown is entitled to challenge his termination, through a union grievance procedure.

Mike Brown Loudermill Results Letter — source: KCSO

Also available: here.

The above is a press release from KCSO. The Auburn Examiner has not independently verified its contents and encourages our readers to personally verify any information they find may be overly biased or questionable. The publication of this press release does not indicate an endorsement of its content.