Seattle Police Captain Arrested in Undercover Prostitution Sting By His Own Department

A Seattle police captain has been arrested on suspicion of sexual exploitation after he was caught up in his department's undercover prostitution operation.

Randal Woolery was arrested on Thursday at 12:23 a.m. and released less than 30 minutes later, according to King County jail records.

Seattle Municipal Court documents show the 53 year old was arrested on suspicion of sexual exploitation, and no complaint was filed by the Seattle City Attorney's Office. Woolery was not charged. Sexual exploitation is known as patronizing a prostitute in other parts of Washington state.

Sergeant Sean Whitcomb said in a statement, according to The Seattle Times, that a 53-year-old Seattle Police Department employee was arrested on Thursday "in an undercover Vice operation in North Seattle."

Whitcomb said the worker was jailed with a request for misdemeanor charges. The Office of Police Accountability was notified, and the staff member was assigned to the Professional Standards Bureau and put on administrative leave.

He described the employee as a "veteran" who had worked with the force for 31 years.

Dan Nolte, a spokesman for City Attorney Pete Holmes, told The Seattle Times the case was passed to the office's review and filing unit.

According to Kiro7, Woolery reviewed the use of force for the Seattle Police Department's Professional Standards Bureau, and was Fire Commissioner in Snohomish County Fire District 7. A source in the police department told the broadcaster Woolery was recently given an award for being an inspirational leader.

In 2015, Seattle changed its terminology from patronizing a prostitute to sexual exploitation, as the City Attorney's Office viewed the latter term as demeaning to people who work in the sex industry.

Sexual exploitation is a misdemeanor in the state of Washington. A person can be accused of the crime if they pay a person or a third party to engage in sexual conduct, or if they solicit a request from an individual to engage in a sex act for a fee.

The offence is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine, as well as any additional costs and fees.

According to the Dellino Law Group: "There can be very significant real life consequences associated with these charges, including impact on immigration status, on one's current job, background checks and future employment potential, family life, housing, and more."

Woolery did not immediately respond to a request for comment.