Tacoma PD subject of FBI investigation

Tacoma’s police department is the focus of an FBI investigation into possible corruption, bribery and other illegal transactions.

Agents are following up on tips forwarded to them by the Washington State Patrol as part of the WSP investigation into the murder-suicide case of Tacoma’s late police chief, David Brame.

WSP will be forwarding its findings to the state Attorney General’s Office for possible criminal charges, according to an Aug. 28 report in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Evidence found by detectives includes suspected corruption of certain police officers, bribery and extortion of favors.

“After terrorism and national security investigations, public corruption is the bureau’s No. 1 criminal priority,” FBI Special Agent Mark Ferbrache told the P-I. “We’ll take legitimate tips and leads and pursue them aggressively.”

The Washington State Patrol began its investigation after allegations Brame was improperly promoted by Tacoma’s city manager, Ray Corpuz, who was later dismissed by the City Council.