Yakima City Manager Tony O’Rourke has determined that domestic violence allegations against Yakima Police Captain Rod Light are unfounded based on facts collected during an independent investigation conducted by the Kennewick Police Department (“KPD”).

The City requested the KPD conduct an outside investigation after a complaint was filed by Yakima resident Ashley Garza concerning two alleged incidents of domestic violence – one in late June at the home of Captain Light and his wife Darla and another in Vancouver after Darla Light had moved there.

The investigation began in early July. The investigation report was provided to O’Rourke about a week ago.

“The investigation did not result in any corroborating evidence being discovered to support the allegation that acts of domestic violence occurred,” said O’Rourke. “There is no statement from Darla Light nor from any of the people she talked to about the incidents to give credence to a claim of domestic violence. There are no law enforcement reports, no medical reports, nor any other evidence to sustain the allegations of domestic violence,” said O’Rourke

O’Rourke said investigators talked to numerous friends, family, and acquaintances of Darla Light and none of them said that she had mentioned incidents of domestic violence to them.

Ashely Garza told the KPD investigators that she doesn’t really know Darla Light and does not consider herself Darla Light’s advocate, but filed a complaint because she is an advocate against domestic violence.

Since the investigation of the allegations began, Captain Light has been on administrative leave. He will be returned to duty immediately and will serve in a special assignment capacity focused on evaluating future facilities needs of the Yakima Police Department, including the possible relocation of the department’s downtown headquarters and the potential location of a substation in the West Valley area.

Yakima Police Captain Rod Light Investigation – News Release