Walt Monegan
Encyclopedia
Walter Carleton "Walt" Monegan, III (born May 1951) is the former Police Chief of Anchorage, Alaska
and Public Safety Commissioner of Alaska. His dismissal
in July 2008 by Alaska Governor Sarah Palin
drew considerable attention, particularly after Palin's selection as the Vice-Presidential nominee for the Republican Party
in August 2008. Monegan accuses Palin of not telling the truth about the reasons for his dismissal.
in 1951 to Elizabeth Clark Monegan and the late Walter C. Monegan, Jr.
, who was awarded the Medal of Honor
following his heroic death in the Korean War
on September 20, 1950.
Monegan grew up in the small village of Nyac in Western Alaska. Monegan has described himself as part Irish, and part Alaska Native. He attended Alaska Methodist University
for a year, and then joined the Marine Corps in 1970.
, as well as the National Crime Prevention Institute at the University of Louisville
, and he obtained a Bachelor of Arts
in organizational administration from Alaska Pacific University
.
In February 2001, Monegan was appointed Chief of Police by Anchorage Mayor George Wuerch
. He served in that position until 2006. Later that year, Governor Sarah Palin
appointed him Public Safety Commissioner. He held the latter position until his dismissal on July 11, 2008.
Mike Wooten; Wooten was involved in a child custody battle with Palin’s sister that included an alleged death threat
against Palin's father. Monegan stated he learned an internal investigation had found all but two of the allegations to be unsubstantiated, and Wooten had been disciplined for the others three years prior. He told the Palins that there was nothing he could do because the matter was closed and Trooper Wooten had already been disciplined. When contacted by the press for comment, Monegan first acknowledged pressure to fire Wooten but said that he could not be certain that his own firing was connected to that issue; but as the governor's story changed, he came to believe that the dispute over Wooten was a major reason for his firing. Subsequent to Palin's VP pick, the McCain campaign claimed Monegan was fired for insubordination and called him a "rogue" but gave no explanation why Monegan had been offered the job of Director of the ABC Board if that were the case.
unanimously voted to release, without officially endorsing, the Branchflower Report in which Stephen Branchflower found that "Governor Sarah Palin abused her power as Governor ... [and] Walt Monegan's refusal to fire Trooper Michael Wooten ... was likely a contributing factor to his termination as Commissioner of Public Safety."
On 6 February 2009 the Alaska State Senate found ten Palin administration officials, together with Todd Palin, in contempt for refusing to attend hearings in the Branchflower investigation to which they had been subpoenaed. Three days later, Talis Colberg resigned his position as Attorney-General and left the State's employ.
The Associated Press reported on November 3, 2008 that an independent investigation subsequently conducted by the Alaska Personnel Board cleared Governor Palin of any abuse of power. The Personnel Board's three members were first appointed by Palin’s predecessor, and Palin reappointed one member in 2008.
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
and Public Safety Commissioner of Alaska. His dismissal
Alaska Public Safety Commissioner dismissal
The Alaska Public Safety Commissioner dismissal, also known as Troopergate, involves the July 2008 dismissal of the Public Safety Commissioner for the State of Alaska by Governor Sarah Palin....
in July 2008 by Alaska Governor Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
drew considerable attention, particularly after Palin's selection as the Vice-Presidential nominee for the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in August 2008. Monegan accuses Palin of not telling the truth about the reasons for his dismissal.
Early life
Walt Monegan was born in Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
in 1951 to Elizabeth Clark Monegan and the late Walter C. Monegan, Jr.
Walter C. Monegan, Jr.
Walter Carleton Monegan, Jr. was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Korea, where he gave his life to help repulse an overwhelming enemy tank and infantry attack...
, who was awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
following his heroic death in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
on September 20, 1950.
Monegan grew up in the small village of Nyac in Western Alaska. Monegan has described himself as part Irish, and part Alaska Native. He attended Alaska Methodist University
Alaska Pacific University
Alaska Pacific University is a small liberal arts college located in Anchorage, Alaska, that emphasizes experiential and active learning...
for a year, and then joined the Marine Corps in 1970.
Highlights of police career
The Anchorage Police Department hired him as a patrolman in January 1974. Monegan worked in every division of the Anchorage Police Department, including Internal Affairs, Crime Prevention, Communications, and Detectives. He also attended the Traffic Institute at Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, as well as the National Crime Prevention Institute at the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
, and he obtained a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in organizational administration from Alaska Pacific University
Alaska Pacific University
Alaska Pacific University is a small liberal arts college located in Anchorage, Alaska, that emphasizes experiential and active learning...
.
In February 2001, Monegan was appointed Chief of Police by Anchorage Mayor George Wuerch
George Wuerch
George P. Wuerch is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He served as mayor of Anchorage, Alaska from 2000 to 2003....
. He served in that position until 2006. Later that year, Governor Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
appointed him Public Safety Commissioner. He held the latter position until his dismissal on July 11, 2008.
Personal life
Monegan is married to Terryene Mihara. They have four adult children from previous marriages and reside in the Anchorage suburb of Chugiak. Monegan's first wife was Georgene Moldovan.Public Safety Commissioner dismissal
Governor Palin's Chief of Staff, Mike Nizich dismissed Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan on July 11, 2008 for the reason (according to Palin's spokesperson Sharon Leighow) that "the governor wanted to take DPS in a different direction" Nizich then offered Monegan the job as director of the ABC Board which he turned down. Anchorage blogger Andrew Halcro broke the story that Monegan was fired due to his refusal to fire the governor's ex-brother-in-law a week later. Monegan said that he had resisted persistent pressure from the Governor, her husband, and her staff, including State Attorney General Talis Colberg, to fire Palin’s ex-brother-in-law, state trooperAlaska State Troopers
The Division of Alaska State Troopers is the state police agency of Alaska. It is a division of the Alaska Department of Public Safety . The Alaska State Troopers are a full service law enforcement agency and handle both traffic and criminal law enforcement...
Mike Wooten; Wooten was involved in a child custody battle with Palin’s sister that included an alleged death threat
Death threat
A death threat is a threat of death, often made anonymously, by one person or a group of people to kill another person or groups of people. These threats are usually designed to intimidate victims in order to manipulate their behavior, thus a death threat is a form of coercion...
against Palin's father. Monegan stated he learned an internal investigation had found all but two of the allegations to be unsubstantiated, and Wooten had been disciplined for the others three years prior. He told the Palins that there was nothing he could do because the matter was closed and Trooper Wooten had already been disciplined. When contacted by the press for comment, Monegan first acknowledged pressure to fire Wooten but said that he could not be certain that his own firing was connected to that issue; but as the governor's story changed, he came to believe that the dispute over Wooten was a major reason for his firing. Subsequent to Palin's VP pick, the McCain campaign claimed Monegan was fired for insubordination and called him a "rogue" but gave no explanation why Monegan had been offered the job of Director of the ABC Board if that were the case.
Finding of investigations
On October 10, 2008, the Alaska Legislative CouncilAlaska Legislative Council
The Alaska Legislative Council is a standing committee of 14 members of the Alaska Legislature, that meets to conduct the business of the Legislature when it is not in session.-Composition and authority:...
unanimously voted to release, without officially endorsing, the Branchflower Report in which Stephen Branchflower found that "Governor Sarah Palin abused her power as Governor ... [and] Walt Monegan's refusal to fire Trooper Michael Wooten ... was likely a contributing factor to his termination as Commissioner of Public Safety."
On 6 February 2009 the Alaska State Senate found ten Palin administration officials, together with Todd Palin, in contempt for refusing to attend hearings in the Branchflower investigation to which they had been subpoenaed. Three days later, Talis Colberg resigned his position as Attorney-General and left the State's employ.
The Associated Press reported on November 3, 2008 that an independent investigation subsequently conducted by the Alaska Personnel Board cleared Governor Palin of any abuse of power. The Personnel Board's three members were first appointed by Palin’s predecessor, and Palin reappointed one member in 2008.