What happens to police department employees who improperly took property destined for disposal will await the return of Police Chief Robert Spinks from medical leave, said Acting Police Chief Sheri Crain.

"I can’t comment on what might happen. Eventually, I will be able to comment on what will happen," she said, citing restrictions on discussing personnel matters.

Crain said the matter began in September 2008 when the

Sequim Police Department began weeding out old property in preparation for vacating its off-site storage space and moving to a new location.

During that process, seized or abandoned vehicles and other property such as 15-year-old patrol vehicle equipment were deemed worthless to the department and designated for disposal, she said. The police department administration later learned that during the moving process some employees had taken some of the items destined for disposal, Crain said.

The items later were returned to the department except for two items that were sold on eBay, she said.

"There are procedures to do that (obtain surplus property destined for disposal). I don’t care that they got them. They just shouldn’t have gotten them that way," Crain said.

The police department’s administration is continuing to investigate to ensure no department policies were violated, she said.

Such internal inquiries always happen with the police chief’s participation, Crain said, so any final action won’t be taken until Spinks returns from medical leave next month.

Reach Brian Gawley at bgawley@sequimgazette.com.