A reliable source tells The Stranger that an internal investigation by the Seattle Police Department concludes that Officer Shandy Cobane should be terminated for an incident last spring in which he threatened to "beat the fucking Mexican piss" out of a suspect (who was later released on site and never faced charges).

Asked to confirm or deny the rumor, SPD spokesman Sgt. Sean Whitcomb would only say this: "I can tell you that the process is not complete. Everything is preliminary, and when the process is finished we will be able to issue a statement."

The recommendation to terminate Cobane, who has been on administrative reassignment since last April, reportedly comes from the SPD's internal disciplinary program, administered by the Office of Professional Accountability. Assuming the rumor is accurate, the recommendation is technically preliminary. The final decision will rest with Chief John Diaz after Cobane gets, as required by law, a face-to-face meeting during which he can contest any discipline.