Michael & Alexander/City of Poulsbo SUMMARY REPORT OF INVESTIGATION Date: January 4, 2016 To: Stephanie Alexander, Esq, ‘Counsel for City of Poulsbo From: Kris Cappel Seabold Group 1. INTRODUCTION & SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION Seabold Group was retained to investigate a claim by former City of Poulsbo Police Officer Danielle Branes that she was involved in a personal relationship with Chief Alan ‘Townsend, Ms. Branes resigned from the police department in a letter dated November 2, 2015. The resignation was effective as of November 16, 2015. Chief Townsend was interviewed and denied Ms. Branes’ allegation. Ms. Branes repeatedly refused to participate in the investigation and was therefore unavailable to the investigator. Il, BACKGROUND FACTS During the evening of October 21, 2015, in an off-duty conversation with Deputy Chief (DC) John Halstead, Ms. Branes claimed she was in a personal relationship with Chief Townsend and that the relationship had been going on for over a year. Following that ‘conversation, at 12:19 a.m. on October 22, 2015, Ms. Branes sent DC Halstead a text message claiming that she had spoken to Chief Townsend earlier that evening (October 21") and that he would be freaked out if he knew Ms. Branes was talking to DC Halstead, Later in the morning of October 22, 2015, knowing that DC Halstead was going to speak to the Chief and possibly the Mayor about her allegation, she requested to have breakfast with DC Halstead, During breakfast, Ms. Branes told DC Halstead that she had ended the relationship the night before in a telephone conversation with Chief Townsend. She also said that despite breaking off the relationship, she was going to travel to Chicago for a few days with Chief Townsend before his wife joined him in Chicago, Ms. Branes claimed Chief Townsend had purchased a first class ticket to Chicago for Ms, Branes, During the aftemoon of October 22, while DC Halstead was speaking with the Mayor, Ms. Branes texted hit stating, “I told you these things in confidence as my friend, not as my boss. Do I have your word that this will not be an issue or told to the Mayor.” DC Halstead did not respond. At 4:35 p.m, that same day, Ms. Branes texted DC Halstead again, stating, “I'll never forgive w for this. U were never my friend. I trusted u.” DC Halstead also did not respond to Ms. Branes’ second text. ‘Seabold Group ‘Summary Report — City of PoulsboMichael & Alexander/City of Poulsbo Chief Yownsend was interviewed and he denied the accusation that he was involved in a personal relationship with Ms. Branes. He also produced travel records establishing that he and his wife traveled together to Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Saturday October 24, 2015, and returned together on Friday, October 30, 2015, There was no evidence that Chief Townsend traveled directly to Chicago without his wife during that period. Il. SUMMARY FINDINGS & CONCLUSIONS Based on the evidence considered in this investigation, Ms. Branes” allegation is unsubstantiated. While itis possible that Ms. Branes could provide information that changes the finding, the evidence that was considered by this investigator raises questions about Ms. Branes’ credibility and truthfulness. For example, the undisputed evidence establishes that Ms, Brane’s claim that she was scheduled to be in Chicago with Chief Townsend before his wife joined him in Chicago was demonstrably false, Travel records show that Chief Townsend and his wife traveled together (o and from Wisconsin. Additionally, her statement to DC Halstead that she broke off the relationship with Chief Townsend in a telephone conversation during the evening of October 21° is also false. Chief Townsend's cell phone records reveal that there were no calls (or texts) fo or from Ms, Branes that evening. There was also other evidence not detailed in this report that similarly calls into question Ms. Branes’ credibility and truthfulness regarding her allegation. ‘Accordingly, based on information that was considered, I conclude that Ms. Branes” allegation that she was involved in a personal relationship with Chief Townsend is unsubstantiated, Seabold Group Summary Report ~ City of Poulsbo