PORT ANGELES — A Clallam County Sheriff’s Department deputy who was fired and then rehired will return to work next week, Sheriff Joe Martin said Tuesday.
William Cortani, a West End deputy, was fired in July 2004 for making inappropriate overtures to the teenage daughter of a fellow deputy.
But after Cortani appealed his termination, an arbitrator decided that he should have received a 30-day suspension instead.
Cortani was reinstated Sept. 29 and given about $40,000 in back pay.
Since Jan. 1, Cortani has been using vacation and sick time he accrued before his termination, Martin said.
His reinstatement was held up by a “question” about a fitness for duty test he took last fall, required because of the long period Cortani has spent off the force, Martin said.
Cortani retook the test in February, Martin said, but declined to discuss details because it was a personnel matter.
Cortani will be reassigned next week, but where and when he will be back on duty has not been determined, Martin said.
Cortani, a 13-year veteran of the department, was fired after an internal investigation found that he had inappropriate contact with the girl.
No sexual contact occurred between Cortani and the girl, but Martin fired Cortani because the deputy had been actively investigating child abuse cases and also to counter loss of trust among residents, Martin said.
