A Washington state trooper who previously served as the mayor of Woodland is being investigated for theft and destroying public records while in office, The Columbian newspaper reported.
Will Finn, a public information officer for Washington State Patrol in Clark, Skamania, Klickitat, Cowlitz and Lewis counties, has been on paid administrative leave since March 11, according to a spokesperson for the state law enforcement agency.
Chris Loftis, the spokesperson, called the move “prudent and necessary.”
The allegations don’t concern Finn’s work with the state patrol. Instead, according to The Columbian, he has been investigated for a theft allegation in connection with a vacation rental business and, separately, for deleting data from a Woodland-issued cellphone.
A charging decision is pending, the Cowlitz County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said Friday.
Finn, who was mayor of Woodland from 2016 to 2023, declined to comment to The Oregonian/OregonLive.
Woodland, home to about 6,500 people, is 20 miles north of Vancouver.
— Beth Slovic is an editor on the public safety and breaking news team. Reach her at 503-221-8551 or bslovic@oregonian.com.
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