The Spokane Police officer, who was suspended this week for two months after associating with a woman tied to prostitution, drugs and burglary, had been disciplined by the department twice before the latest incident.

Police Chief Frank Straub suspended Officer Darrell Quarles on Monday for 60 days without pay after an internal investigation determined that he not only associated with the woman but also violated department policy by searching internal records to check on the status of her criminal investigation.

The Spokesman-Review also asked police spokeswoman Monique Cotton on Monday whether Quarles had received any prior commendations or discipline. Cotton listed the life saving award that Quarles earned in 2010 by dragging a shooting victim to safety, but she said she did not have access to the discipline records.

Cotton followed up today said that Quarles has been the subject of three complaints that have been founded, with the most recent on resulting in the 60-day suspension.

The first complaint was filed in 2009 when someone complained that Quarles used profanity during an interaction. “He was given counseling by his sergeant and then apologized” to the person and family of person who made the complaint, Cotton said.

Then last October, Quarles was disciplined for failing “to respond with actions consistent with policy and procedure” when he responded to a disturbance call at a restaurant.

Quarles apparently responded to the call and “did not wait for backup, did not properly advise a citizen that he or she was under arrest and then wrote an inadequate report,” Cotton said. “He was given a letter of reprimand following the incident.”

In the most recent case, Quarles – who made $82,519 in pay and overtime last year – Cotton said Quarles was having an “off-duty, interpersonal relationship” with the woman. “He did not pay for her services,” Cotton said. “She did not commit a crime to his knowledge while they were together. But he knew of past incidents.”

In addition to his life saving award from 2010, Quarles has received three unsolicited letters from residents complimenting him on his work.

In March 2009, Quarles responded to a resident suffering a mental crisis and a woman credited Quarles’ actions for saving the person’s life.

In April 2009, Quarles also received a letter saying he was “extremely professional” in dealing with another tense situation with a mentally-ill person.

And finally, in August of 2010 Quarles received an e-mail from a woman who thanked Quarles for helping convince her son, who had mental and chemical dependency issues, to return back to the hospital.