Federal Way Community Development Director fired

Published 3:45 pm Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Federal Way Community Development Director Michael Morales was fired by the city on Monday, April 25.

Morales’ employment was terminated after criminal charges were brought against him for driving with a suspended license on multiple occasions.

“Your actions have not only resulted in criminal charges being filed, but they constitute an exercise in bad judgment and demonstrate a lack of appropriate leadership for your position within the City,” said Federal Way Chief of Staff Brian Wilson in his letter of intent to terminate Morales.

Morales was involved in a fender-bender at the Federal Way Community Center on March 30 according to a police report. The responding officer found that Morales had a suspended license and no valid proof of insurance and issued him a citation.

Later in the day, police noticed that his vehicle had been moved from the community center to City Hall, and officers trained a Safe City camera on the vehicle to see who’d drive it later.

That same afternoon, another officer hand-delivered a second citation to Morales and told him not to drive until his suspension was resolved.

Morales was then seen on camera driving his vehicle from City Hall that evening. The following morning, he was found to have driven his truck to work.

Through further investigation, City Attorney Amy Jo Pearsall found that Morales’ license was originally suspended on September 24, 2015. A Notice of Suspension was sent to the Yakima address he had on file in August 2015.

Morales was issued an infraction for speeding in February 2015 and, during a subsequent court date, agreed to pay a fine and attend driving school. He failed to comply with those stipulations and was charged with failure to appear on June 23, 2015.

Morales was placed on paid administrative leave on March 31 of this year.

On April 3, Morales sent an email to Wilson saying that his license was no longer suspended and that he’d had an old insurance card in his vehicle, but his insurance coverage had never actually lapsed.

Wilson sent Morales a letter of intent to terminate on April 12. A pre-disciplinary hearing was held on April 14 for Morales to present his case on and attempt to reverse the termination decision.

“…I can’t find the words for my apology, my repentance for what’s occurred,” Morales said at the hearing. “Not only for my family but for the organization and my department, whom I’ve really grown fond of working with in this year, and for disappointing all of you for giving me an opportunity to resume my missed career, which I believe is finished.”

About a week later, Wilson decided to uphold the termination.

“I have considered the information that you provided and reviewed the investigation materials, but my decision to terminate your employment with the City stands,” wrote Wilson in the notice of termination on April 25.

Building Official Scott Sproul has been the Acting Community Development Director since Morales was first placed on leave.

Morales was named the Community Development Director in March 2015. He previously worked for the city of Yakima for 15 years.