New safety chief denies harassment claims

ANCHORAGE — New Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner Charles Kopp defended himself this week against accusations of sexual harassment while he served as Kenai’s police chief.

Controversy erupted after Gov. Sarah Palin’s appointment of Kopp following the abrupt firing of former DPS commissioner Walt Monegan. One facet of that controversy was a 2005 sexual harassment claim against Kopp from a former Kenai city employee.

During a conference call this week with reporters, Kopp said he looks forward to serving the people of Alaska and wanted to lay bare the circumstances surrounding the accusation.

“I am ready to talk about the circumstances of what I’ve been accused,” Kopp said. “Sexual harassment is a serious thing.”

Kopp, who would not name the complainant, said he has known the woman since high school. Both Kopp and the complainant typically greeted each other with a hug, he said, adding that both he and his wife were friends with the woman.

During the teleconference, Kopp outlined a friendly relationship with the woman, including cards and gifts from the complainant sent to Kopp outside work. Kopp said he and his wife attended social functions with the woman, even taking in a music recital performed by the woman’s daughter.

It was in September 2005 that the woman accused Kopp of sexual harassment. Kopp said he admits to hugging the woman at work — adding the hugs were no different from those the pair had engaged in for years — and said he briefly rubbed the woman’s neck one morning after she complained of neck pain.

During the latter encounter, Kopp said he heard the complainant moaning in her office one morning and went to see what was the matter. The woman said she was suffering from terrible neck pain that had “locked her up,” Kopp said.

After offering the complainant pain medicine and the chance to go home early — both of which Kopp said she initially declined, but later accepted — he asked her if she wanted him to apply direct pressure to her neck.

Kopp was only in contact with the woman’s neck for a few seconds, he said.

“I did not kiss her,” Kopp said, responding to a reported allegation.

For reasons Kopp said are unknown to him, the woman filed a sexual harassment claim with the city. Kopp said he has nothing to be ashamed of, adding he does not know what the woman’s motives were for filing the claim.

“And I stand by that statement,” he said.

Kopp said the sexual harassment claim was investigated by the city as any claim would have been. The woman was reassigned to a new supervisor to protect both sides, Kopp said.

Kopp was given a written reprimand after the city’s investigation, essentially telling him not to hug or touch any city employee, he said.

After appealing, Kopp said the Kenai City Council agreed with his appeal, saying the letter of reprimand would be removed from his file if no other harassment claims were levied during the next two years.

No one has made another claim against him, Kopp said.

“There is nothing in my record,” Kopp said.

When asked about a reported witness to an alleged kiss between Kopp and the complainant, Kopp said no witness exists.

“That was a lie,” he said, again denying a kiss ever took place.

Kopp maintains he did nothing blatantly harassing in the workplace. He also said the Palin administration knew of the allegation against him in 2006. Asked whether he told Palin about the claim when she appointed him, Kopp did not say yes or no, adding the appointment came quickly.

Kenai Mayor Pat Porter spoke on behalf of Kopp Tuesday, saying the city is sad to lose him to his new position.

After touting Kopp’s service to the city, Porter said Kopp is heading in the right direction.