.- - Marcia Davenport Kent, MID anci Aciuit October 29. 2004. Sue Rahr Chief of Field Operations CID Rebecca Hicks Department ol? Executive Sen'tces 400 chler Way Seattle. WA 98l04-2683 Chief Ruhr. This letter is regarding_ nhont have treated for Bipolar Disorder. for more than a year. Bipolar disorder is an episodic disorder in which people experience discrete periods of depression. mania and h_\pomania. altcmating with periods of normal functioning. ?has a ?rapid cycling? form of the illness with depressive episode and 4-5 lt_\p01ntlnic cpsodes in the last year. The depressivecpisodc? was mild in nature and did not signi?cantly impact her work. When has an episode of hypomania, shc?experietteus decreased need for sleep. increased energ). rapid thoughts with ?pooroomenttatien and has more dif?culty with orgatnxing activities which lasts for a few days to 2 Weeks. rues: are'mosl often less than a week in duration. She has NOT had ?grandiose? thoughts. increasedjaggression homicidal/suicidal ideas or behaved irrationally. Site has NOT had an episode of full mania. lntentening periods of long" duration are characterized by normal functioning. ?has demonstrated the ability to identify her before people can see them externally. and has consistently sought my counsel regarding medication on a neekly 10 basis as needed Recovery from episodes in the last 6 months has shortened because ol?this responsible approach. 1 Inn 0 every con?dence that ?has the insight to herself from the norkplace hen that is needed for her safely and the safety cl?ethers-?-it' this uauld be allonetl and encouraged by her superiortt In bcl'noen episodes?is fully capable of handling herjob sal?eh'. ?mbi?zw signi?cantly in the last 6 months prior to placement on disability. 1 strongly. disagreed With tlus for disability as she was doing an excellent job of identifying 55 tnptonts and . making appropriate to her work schedule to compensate. With the exception ofa l'cu necks tn thepast 6 months. ?could have been working safely thump, her time on disahtlity. Placement on disability wasa direct result ofhct attempt to ensure that she could take the appropriate steps to he all l. when tn an epxSode through the Family Medical Leave Act. However. the last month has been for? because nl?thc clTorls to tL?IllO\ her front the force She is currently htpomanic and has experienced panic attacks For the ill?Sl time in 0\Cl' a \car Adjustments to medications are being made which should stop this episode ithin the next lendm It is my expectation. based on the pattern ofthc last year. that the current In pomanic phase end nine-\t neck. would most likely be lit For light duty within I-i necks Again as a citizen and a it is disturbing that _h:ts lit-en dismissed from the police force at a lime she actn'ely seeking to manage her illness She did men well until the effort to ?nd her "unlit liar duly" ensued. She has reported that she Ielt coerced lillG '1 release of reconls [or my ollice h} three separate then. Nu um i tunm ml Hli? ?tam nrrl'x nt? rtt? _nnder these circumstances sends a disturbing message to other Miners hot be pro: . l't tt'l - 'tli t'ustx - . . . - - itwtr? amt-31M ?i?mti- i pilot-.1 .t or you may be ?red." Untreated police officers pose a much grenter danger to out community than anything, that could while on medications, seeking help From professionals on regular and consistent basis. with proactive plans to remove herself from the werkplace when the ?rst sign of episodes occur. Please reconsider your decision to dismiss ?from the police force. It is inappropriate for the level of illness exhibited over the past 6 months which could have been n?ith 1-2 weeks of!" work at the correct time. In my opinion, she should return to light duty' in l-?S weeks when this episode has ended and move on to full duty within 1-2 months with measures in place to nllow? to remove herself from the workplace when new episodes emerge. All of your of?cers should he so diligent and honest in taking care of their mental, physical and substance use disorders. Sincerely. em ten 0 Marcia Davenport Kent, MD