SEATTLE — Four female officers say they have dealt with bullying, sexual harassment, and discrimination at the Seattle Police Department. They filed a $5 million claim on Thursday.
Kame Spencer, Valerie Carson, Judinna Jean Gulpan, and Lauren Truscott are the four female officers coming forward.
"At least three of my clients are currently being used by the department as recruiting tools to encourage more women to apply for the department,” said Attorney Sumeer Singla.
Singla says his clients describe a hostile work environment specifically because of the alleged actions of then Sgt. John O’Neil, Chief Adrian Diaz, and Human Resource Manager Rebecca McKechnie.
O’Neil and Diaz are accused of engaging in “grooming” and “predatory behavior.”
Officer Spencer claims O'Neil made her physically uncomfortable with his advances.
During a conversation about a job involving a police K9, when she said she didn't have a suitable place for the dog, O’Neil allegedly said something to the effect of "you can live with me; my ex-wife is still there but it is no big deal."
When Spencer stated that the suggestion was inappropriate, O’Neil allegedly replied, “What’s inappropriate about it?!”
Officer Gulpan says O'Neil bragged about his success with women during an “invite only” trip some Seattle officers took to Las Vegas. Gulpan says O’Neil asked her to join, saying the trip would be good for her career.
According to the claim, during that trip, O’Neil made a point to tell Gulpan something to the effect of, “I’m really good at sex.”
The claim says Gulpan was repelled and disgusted by this behavior.
On another occasion, O’Neil allegedly told her she needed to learn how to handle her emotions as a female because the men in the office are not to handle "female moods."
Carson said Diaz paid special attention to her, chatting at the end of her shift and making flattering comments about her outfits that made her uncomfortable.
The complaint says McKechnie seemed to engage in victim blaming when officers came forward with complaints.
"The chief needs to answer the question -- when the women that you are using to encourage other women to apply say they are being abused, are you going to take them seriously or are you just going to start putting out press releases saying that we are going to blame the victims for thinking they are victims,” said Singla.
The city has 60 days to investigate and respond to the claim.
The Seattle Police Department Office of Public Affairs released the following statement:
As a general rule, the Seattle Police Department does not litigate tort claims in the media – a practice which is discouraged under case schedules that dictate the flow of discovery in civil litigation, the rules of professional conduct to which all attorneys are bound, and as a matter of professional integrity. For that reason, the department will not respond to the personal attacks rooted in rough estimations of hearsay reflecting, at their core, individual perceptions of victimhood that are unsupported and – in some instances – belied by the comprehensive investigations that will no doubt ultimately be of record. While policing, not unlike many professions that require a high level of physicality, has been and remains a male-dominated profession, the Department, and Chief Diaz, are proud of the advancements made by women in the department over the past four years, the commitment of the department to work with its dedicated workforce to address both internal and external challenges that may push, or pull, women out of the workplace, and to create a healthy work environment where all employees can grow and thrive. While individual grievances may drive headlines, the Department is confident that the record, in its fullness, will prove them unsupported.
Mayor Bruce Harrell sent a statement saying he is "committed to building a police service that is representative of our community, including ensuring women are empowered and able to succeed."
SPD Chief Diaz sent a statement to KING 5 that read, in part:
"These claims against Chief Diaz are both false and contradicted by the claimants’ earlier statements in extensive EEO investigations. As a Hispanic American with decades of experience in law enforcement, Chief Diaz has faced significant discrimination throughout his career. He well understands the negative impact it can have both personally and professionally. Based upon that experience, he has confronted it head on as chief, including specifically through the 30/30 Project to increase female participation in policing and police leadership. Chief Diaz is proud of the department’s record in addressing and overcoming inherent racism and sexism in his time as chief. He is confident the revealing light of the judicial process will set the record straight on these allegations."