Steve Branchflower
	Hollis French

 

Steve Quinn, "Gop Lawmakers Sue To Stop Palin Investigation," The Associated Press, 9/16/08  

Kyle Hopkins, "Palin Begins Filling Top Jobs," Anchorage Daily News, 11/29/06

Amanda Carpenter, "TrooperGate Shows Palin's Reform Creds," Town Hall, www.townhall.com, 9/16/08

In 1974, Monegan Was Hired As A Patrolman With The Anchorage Police Department; In 2001, He Was Named Chief Of Police.  "In January of 1974, Walt was hired as a patrolman with the Anchorage Police Department. … In February of 2001 then Lieutenant Monegan, a district commander, was appointed Chief of Police by Mayor George Wuerch." (Alaska Association Of Chiefs Of Police Web site, www.aacop.org, Accessed 9/16/08)

In July 2008, Walt Monegan Was Asked To Step Down From His Position As Alaska Commissioner Of Public Safety. "The state's top cop has been fired, he said Saturday. Gov. Sarah Palin appointed Walt Monegan as commissioner of public safety shortly after her election in 2006. On Friday, Palin's chief of staff told Monegan he was being replaced." (Kyle Hopkins, "'Out Of The Blue,' Top Cop Monegan Gets Palin's Axe," Anchorage Daily News, 7/13/08)

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin Fired Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. (Steve Quinn, "Gop Lawmakers Sue To Stop Palin Investigation," The Associated Press, 9/16/08)

• Newly Released Emails Show Gov. Sarah Palin Fired Monegan "Because He Routinely Undermined Her On Budget Issues." "The latest revelation in the investigation on Sarah Palin's decision to fire Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan reinforces her credentials as a reformer who strived to abide by her state budget and maintain dignity within the ranks of her law enforcement as Governor of Alaska. Emails released by Palin's lawyer in the evolving 'Troopergate' investigation show Palin fired Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan because he routinely undermined her on budget issues, not because of his refusal to fire Palin's ex brother-in-law Trooper Mike Wooten." (Amanda Carpenter, "TrooperGate Shows Palin's Reform Creds," Town Hall, www.townhall.com, 9/16/08)
  
  
  • The "Halfway Point" Of Palin's Term Made It A "Natural" Time To Make Some Changes. "Palin spokeswoman Sharon Leighow said the governor is now at the halfway point of her term and it's natural for her to make changes. Palin wanted the public safety department headed in a new direction, Leighow said." (Kyle Hopkins, "'Out Of The Blue,' Top Cop Monegan Gets Palin's Axe," Anchorage Daily News, 7/13/08)

In 2006, Anchorage Mayor – And 2008 Democrat Senate Candidate – Mark Begich Similarly Dismissed Monegan. "This is not the first time Monegan has lost his job. In 2006, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich asked him to leave his post as Anchorage Police Chief early, although Monegan was willing to stay on another year. At the time, Begich had just won re-election and was restructuring department leadership." (Kyle Hopkins, "Palin Begins Filling Top Jobs," Anchorage Daily News, 11/29/06)

Monegan Worked With Linda Branchflower, The Wife Of The Special Counsel Investigating Governor Palin; Linda Had Lavished Public Praise On Monegan When He Was Named Anchorage Police Chief. "Anchorage Mayor George Wuerch on Tuesday announced his pick for police chief: Lt. Walter C. Monegan, a 27-year veteran of the Anchorage Police Department … .  He's currently commander of the department's West Anchorage district. …  Monegan is a respected supervisor because he listens to his employees and isn't afraid to change course if something isn't working out, said detective Linda Branchflower." (Lisa Demer, "New Chief," Anchorage Daily News, 1/31/01)

Lawmakers Have Filed Suit To Have The Palin Investigation Over Monegan's Firing Dismissed. "Five Republican state lawmakers filed suit Tuesday to end the bipartisan investigation into Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's firing of the public safety commissioner even though the vice presidential candidate once said she welcomed the probe into allegations of abuse of power. The lawsuit called the investigation 'unlawful, biased, partial and partisan.'" (Steve Quinn, "Gop Lawmakers Sue To Stop Palin Investigation," The Associated Press, 9/16/08)

• "Palin Maintains That She Fired Monegan Over Budget Disagreements, Not Because He Wouldn't Dismiss Her Ex-Brother-In-Law." (Steve Quinn, "Gop Lawmakers Sue To Stop Palin Investigation," The Associated Press, 9/16/08)

Palin's Lawyer Has Argued That Hollis French's Public Statements Show The Probe Is Poltically Motivated. "Palin's lawyer has sought to have the three-member state Personnel Board take over to investigation, alleging that public statements made by French indicated the probe was politically motivated. French had said the results of the investigation could constitute an 'October surprise' for the McCain campaign, and he later apologized. The campaign insists that French, Branchflower and Monegan are friends..." (Steve Quinn, "Gop Lawmakers Sue To Stop Palin Investigation," The Associated Press, 9/16/08)

• "Thomas Van Flein, A Lawyer For The Governor's Office, Cited The Newly Released E-Mails Monday In Asking The Personnel Board To Find No Probable Cause For An Ethics Investigation." (Steve Quinn, "Gop Lawmakers Sue To Stop Palin Investigation," The Associated Press, 9/16/08)