Fuda was suspended in 1979

Sgt. Jim Fuda, a candidate for King County sheriff who admitted earlier this week that he earned extra pay from a diploma-mill degree, was suspended for an ethical violation five years into his police career.

Fuda, who has been with the department for 32 years, was suspended for 30 days without pay in 1979 after he was disciplined for his role in the disappearance of $300 from the sheriff's department's narcotics-investigation fund.

According to records in Fuda's personnel file, obtained by The Seattle Times in a public-records request, Fuda was accused by his boss of covering up for his partner, who was under investigation after the disappearance of several hundred dollars to be used for an undercover drug buy.

Records show Fuda was found to have violated department policy by falsifying records; made false statements to a prosecutor; and failed to report the misconduct of another police officer.

He was suspended without pay for 30 days and put on probation for one year with a pay decrease, to the salary of a starting police officer.

Fuda's partner at the time, Emil Schemnitzer, was charged with perjury and two counts of obstructing justice in connection with a purported narcotics buy. He was later acquitted.

Fuda, who is running for sheriff against King County Sheriff Sue Rahr and Seattle police Lt. Greg Schmidt, did not return phone calls yesterday. But Thursday, he said he was willing to let his personnel records be disclosed.

"I'm willing to run on my own record and my own merits," he said.

According to the internal investigation into Schemnitzer and Fuda, an informant told police that Schemnitzer swore in a search-warrant affidavit that he had given the informant $300 to make a marijuana purchase Oct. 9, 1977. After a plea deal fell through, the informant complained to his attorney, saying that transaction had not occurred.

Schemnitzer later resigned after internal investigators confronted him with new evidence, according to the internal investigation.

Fuda later said Schemnitzer had asked him to help cover up the bogus transaction.

Fuda told investigators within the department that he'd signed a witness statement about the alleged transaction between his partner and the informant, even though he had not witnessed it and lied to the prosecuting attorney when questioned initially.

Fuda also said that Schemnitzer asked him, before his trial, to lie in court, which Fuda said he refused to do.

Lawrence G. Waldt, who was head of the sheriff's office at the time, said in a 1979 Seattle Times article that although Fuda "was not personally involved" in the money's disappearance, the department had concluded that he "in essence, covered up the matter during an inquiry by the prosecutor's office."