PORT ANGELES — Clallam County plans to advertise for a new victim-witness coordinator after the former coordinator, who was on paid administrative leave, was fired a week ago.
Anna E. Shimko, 33, of Port Angeles, was placed on administrative leave Dec. 13.
She is charged with fourth-degree misdemeanor assault in an alleged domestic violence incident at her home Dec. 12.
“We are taking a good look at the position and are hoping to be advertising it, frankly, in the next week or two,” county Prosecuting Attorney Deb Kelly said Tuesday.
“Our plans are to fill the position.”
Shimko was fired Jan. 25, county Human Resources Manager Marge Upham confirmed Tuesday.
Neither Upham nor Kelly would comment on why Shimko was terminated, saying it was a personnel matter.
Kelly also would not comment on why Shimko was fired before the end of the legal proceedings against her.
“I’m not comfortable commenting at all with respect to Ms. Shimko,” Kelly said.
The victim-witness coordinator is a liaison between government agencies, witnesses and victims, many of whom are involved in domestic violence cases.
The position is funded by state grant money and assessments paid by criminal defendants, not the county general fund, making it more likely Shimko will be replaced despite county budget constraints, Kelly said.
Shimko was paid $22.54 an hour.
The job is being filled temporarily by Administrative Specialist Tina Hendrickson of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
A pretrial hearing for Shimko is set for 2:30 p.m. Thursday in Forks District Court 2.
Her trial is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 9.
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Senior staff writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
