A Western Washington University police officer has been terminated from his position following an investigation into a use of force incident in January. Criminal charges are now being pursued against the officer.
Robert Anderson was terminated Thursday, July 11 after the Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office notified University Police Department Chief Katy Potts that it was pursuing fourth-degree assault charges against the officer, according to a press release from the police department.
Fourth-degree assault in Washington is a gross misdemeanor punishable with up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.
“As law enforcement officers, we are entrusted with the immense responsibility of upholding the law and ensuring the safety of our community,” Potts wrote in the press release. “We must always remember that with this responsibility comes the obligation that we treat every individual with dignity, respect and restraint.”
The firing stems from when Anderson and another police officer caught a suspect breaking into a private vehicle owned by one of the officers on January 20, according to the press release. The suspect was handcuffed, and while being searched and moved into the police car, he was struck in the face by the arresting officer.
Because use of force was used during the arrest, university police started a review of the incident as required by department policy, Potts said in the release. An administrative internal review was needed, so UPD asked on Jan. 29 that the Bellingham Police Department review the case.
BPD found potential criminal actions related to the officer’s use of force and then referred the case to an outside agency — the Mount Vernon Police Department — for a criminal investigation, according to the release.
Anderson was placed on administrative leave on March 21 when the case was referred to MVPD, according to an email to CDN by Jonathan Higgins, the director of university communications for Western.
When MVPD concluded its investigation, the case was then sent to the Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office, which told Potts on July 8 that it was going to pursue fourth-degree assault charges against Anderson.
MVPD said they referred the case to Whatcom County on April 18.
The other responding officer involved in the incident, who wasn’t named in the release, remains on administrative leave until BPD concludes its administrative review, according to Potts.
Potts assured the campus community that the department has accountability and reporting measures in place and that all officers and staff are provided with ongoing training on the agency’s use of force policies.
Anderson started with Western in December 2023, according to his LinkedIn profile. Previously, he worked for three years as a drug interdiction officer with the Lummi Nation Police Department and 12 years as a police officer in Williams, Arizona.
Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.
