After being indicted May 19 on charges of using excessive force while working as a Tukwila Police Officer in 2011, Snoqualmie Officer Nick Hogan was put on paid administrative leave. Last week, Hogan pleaded not guilty to the charges. He will face a jury trial Aug. 8.

There is currently no end date set on Hogan’s leave, said Nick Almquist, Snoqualmie police captain.

Placing an officer on leave during a lawsuit and investigation is common, Almquist said, although the offense didn’t occur in Snoqualmie.

“Whenever somebody is under investigation under these terms it is practice to put them on leave while the investigation is going just because of credibility and waiting for the pending outcome,” Almquist said.

The already-stretched Snoqualmie Police Department is down to 17 officers, with Hogan on leave. The department has a total of 24 positions allotted from Snoqualmie and North Bend, not including the Chief, Steve McCulley, and Captain, Almquist.

“We are already on mandatory 12-hour shifts and we will continue to fill our fragile schedule,” Almquist said. “They normally work 10 hour days, everyone is working two extra hours every day and filling overtime slots on their days off.”

To address staffing needs, the department is looking to hire more officers. According to Almquist, the department has made conditional offers to two police officers and has hired another who will be sworn in soon.

“The police are working hard, long hours and have really stepped up to the plate and to make sure that both Snoqualmie and North Bend are being well protected and well served,” he said. “They are definitely looking forward to a break after working long hours. That really wears on families and life in general.”