In a compelling case out of Steilacoom, Washington, Sgt. Larry Whelan, a police officer with 33 years of service, was fired earlier this year after helping a dying man and his estranged wife address the man’s condemned home and firearms collection. Based on a detailed report from the Tacoma News Tribune, Whelan appears to have a strong defense for his actions.

In August, Sgt. Whelan responded to a welfare check on the 600 block of 1st Street, where he discovered a pool of blood outside a dilapidated home and found 72-year-old Bill Johnston inside, suffering from cancer and lying in filth. Johnston, who Whelan knew, was taken to the hospital, but his house was condemned and deemed too unsafe for him to return. Johnston passed away within a month, raising immediate concerns about his dog, Tali, and his firearms collection.

Whelan took Tali home and referred Johnston and his wife to a real-estate brokerage where he planned to hang his license as a real estate agent. He also assisted in collecting and moving at least 16 firearms to a neighbor’s safe. Johnston, a Navy veteran and competitive shooter, had a significant firearms collection. Whelan and the neighbor transported the guns using a wheelbarrow over two trips, with Whelan off duty during the second visit.

Despite his seemingly helpful actions, an anonymous complaint accused Whelan of committing a crime by taking the guns and supposedly planning to sell them for profit. However, a criminal investigation by the Tacoma Police Department found no evidence of wrongdoing. The investigation concluded that Whelan had not attempted to steal or illegally sell the firearms and that the home sale was handled by the brokerage, not Whelan. Johnston’s wife confirmed that Whelan had declined to handle the transaction due to conflict of interest concerns and had only provided a referral.

Despite these findings, Steilacoom’s internal investigation found Whelan in violation of multiple department policies. He was accused of failing to fill out an incident report, defying an order not to discuss the review, being untruthful and inconsistent in his accounts, and influencing other witnesses. The town also faulted Whelan for transferring the firearms to a neighbor without a background check, although Whelan stated he knew the neighbor was legally eligible to possess a firearm. Additionally, the town claimed Whelan did not file an incident report, though the Tacoma PD noted that Whelan had documented key aspects of his response using the department’s dispatch system.

Public Safety Chief Tom Yabe informed Whelan of the findings, emphasizing that he had transferred significant quantities of firearms long after the need for safekeeping had elapsed and had neglected to inform a supervisor. Whelan was criticized for not following administrative procedures, despite the Tacoma PD concluding he acted as a community guardian.

Tia Johnston, Bill’s widow, called Whelan’s termination “stupid” and defended his actions, highlighting the overwhelming situation she faced and Whelan’s efforts to help. She maintained that her late husband was concerned about his firearms being stored safely, and Whelan’s intervention was appreciated.

Whelan is challenging his termination, and his case is set to go to arbitration this fall. Given his long service and the findings of the criminal investigation, it seems excessive to fire him over administrative procedural violations. As Tia Johnston remarked, “police officers like Larry are few and far between, and we actually need more of them like him.” Based on the Tacoma News Tribune report, it’s hard to disagree with her position, and one can only hope that Whelan succeeds in his fight to regain his job.