By RAELYNN RICARTE
News staff writer
August 11, 2007

Hood River City Police Officer Erin Mason is back on patrol after apologizing to the community for “inappropriate” behavior.

“I think that whenever a public employee does something that’s embarrassing to the city, he or she needs to regain their trust,” said Bob Francis, city manager.

“I think Officer Mason is doing that by admitting his mistake and pledging not to repeat it.”

Mason was ordered to publish a formal letter of apology as part of a disciplinary package. He was sanctioned after making a drunken telephone call to the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center on June 13.

According to reports, Mason initiated the call to gain the telephone number of a woman that he wanted to contact for personal reasons.

During the almost 24-minute conversation on a recorded line accessible to the public, he made numerous racial and gender slurs, along with derogatory comments about homosexuals.

Mason also revealed his undercover status with the Mid-Columbia Interagency Narcotics Task Force. In addition, he named the Oregon State Police officer who he was serving with on MINT — and at whose house he was partying that night.

Chief Bruce Ludwig drew fire from several fronts after appointing Mason to MINT in April. He had removed an experienced narcotics detective a couple of months earlier over a $17.34 accounting error. That individual rejoined the team shortly after Mason was removed for violating the city’s code of conduct.

The Hood River Police Officer’s Association challenged Ludwig for not allowing all interested officers to apply for the position. He agreed to advertise the job and then re-appointed Mason. That decision led the only female officer on the force, with more work experience, to file a gender discrimination complaint.

A consultant hired by the city to investigate her grievance found other problems existing within the department, according to Steve Everroad, city personnel director.

In June, Ludwig made the following statement about the heightened focus on his department:

“Public scrutiny is nothing new to law enforcement personnel; it’s taught in Ethics 101.

“Law enforcement officers live in a fish bowl; things we do will be scrutinized. Each one of us needs to be constantly conscious of that.

“I think the scrutiny is good for the community. It forces us to be transparent so they can believe that we’re not just sweeping things under the table or trying to hide things from others.”

As a result of the gender discrimination complaint, Lt. David Thompson was issued a letter of reprimand. He was also directed to personally apologize to all employees for making “off color” remarks that were viewed by some as offensive.

Ludwig was directed to avoid future “selective decisions” by instituting a new set of criteria and procedures.

According to Francis, a letter of “strict guidance” was placed in the chief’s personnel file outlining changes that needed to be made within the department. Ludwig was also ordered to open up better lines of communication with his staffers.