The City of Spokane Valley has completed its investigation into Councilmember Al Merkel, finding that he displayed hostile behavior towards staff members at city hall. The investigation was initiated in response to a complaint from a city employee about Merkel’s inappropriate communication and behavior, which raised safety concerns among other employees.
Merkel, however, denied any wrongdoing throughout the investigation and claimed that the city did not inform him of the alleged misconduct. In a press conference he held himself, Merkel accused the investigation of being a smear campaign against him and an attempt to punish voters who elected him.
The investigation involved interviews with 22 witnesses, including both males and females. While it was determined that Merkel violated the city’s governance manual by displaying a pattern of hostile behavior, there was no evidence of gender discrimination in his actions.
Several instances were highlighted in the investigation where witnesses described Merkel as being confrontational and disruptive, even before he was elected. These behaviors included placing signs in prohibited areas, raising his voice and becoming irate when asked to remove them, and creating a disturbance at city council meetings.
Despite the findings of the investigation, Merkel maintained his innocence and criticized the scope of the inquiry. He stated that he plans to provide a written response to the investigation by the deadline.
The City of Spokane Valley has decided to have Merkel work in a separate area from other staff members at city hall following the investigation.
