Trooper and ex-mayor investigated for theft, record destruction

A Washington state trooper, who was also the mayor of Woodland, is under investigation for theft and destroying public records. Will Finn served as mayor from 2016 to 2023 and is currently on paid administrative leave. Finn works as a public information officer for the Washington State Patrol. He has been on leave since March 11. A spokesperson for the agency called the decision to place him on leave "prudent and necessary." The allegations do not relate to his role with the state patrol. Reports indicate that the theft case involves a vacation rental business, while the destruction of records is linked to data deleted from a Woodland-issued cellphone. The Cowlitz County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is still deciding whether to file charges. Finn has not commented on the investigation. Woodland is a small city located about 20 miles north of Vancouver, Washington.