West Pierce Fire & Rescue has yet to make a decision on what to do about attorney John Sheeran’s position on the Board of Fire Commissioners after charges surfaced this week alleging he delivered drugs to jail inmates who were his legal clients.
Sheeran, 60, serves on the board in Position 5. His term lasts from 2020 to 2025, according to the West Pierce Fire & Rescue website. The former deputy prosecuting attorney became a defense attorney about five years ago. Over his legal career, he prosecuted DUIs, domestic violence, sexual assault, meth labs and murder cases, according to his commissioner bio.
He recently was indicted in federal court for conspiring to smuggle drugs into King County Correctional Facility with four other people, The News Tribune reported Tuesday.
West Pierce Fire & Rescue spokesperson Jenny Weekes told The News Tribune via phone Friday that Sheeran is serving as a commissioner, and clarified he is an elected official and not appointed. The department has little oversight over elected officials, according to Weekes.
She couldn’t confirm if the board would discuss Sheeran’s future at its next meeting, which is scheduled for Nov. 5. Meeting agendas are finalized the Thursday prior to each meeting, so the agenda for the Nov. 5 meeting will be finalized Oct. 31, likely in mid-afternoon and posted to the website soon afterward. Because the board can’t discuss relevant business outside of public meetings, the Nov. 5 meeting would be the best opportunity to find out more, according to Weekes.
Board Chair Bart Dalton declined to comment when The News Tribune reached him via phone Thursday beyond saying that the board needed to talk to its lawyers about Sheeran’s situation. He couldn’t say whether Sheeran had resigned his position, adding that board members didn’t know anything further than information that is publicly available.
The News Tribune reached out to Sheeran’s attorney to request comment Friday afternoon but did not immediately hear back.