Officer sues the Bellevue Police Dept. for 'unlawful retaliation'
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BELLEVUE, Wash. -- The Bellevue Police Department is expected to be served a federal lawsuit Thursday by one of its own officers who claims she was a victim of harassment and retaliation.
For nearly six years, officer Jan Auclair Trizuto has worn the Bellevue police uniform. She considers it a dream job, but now it's bringing a level of stress and anxiety she never imagined.
In a ten page lawsuit, Trizuto describes a culture of retaliation -- specifically from her former supervision lieutenant.
"He began really treating her poorly and she began exhibiting some of the tell-tale signs of harassment in the workplace," said Brian Boice, Trizuto's attorney.
Trizuto claims the retaliation started after an internal sexual harassment complaint was filed against Trizuto's field training officer. She claims he shared stories about his private parts and sexual experiences when they were alone in a patrol car.
"As a result she tried to buck up -- and (tried) to get through initial phase of training," Boice said.
Trizuto didn't immediately report the conduct because she feared she would become a target for retaliation, but a year later she said the sexual harassment continued through text messages.
"This is somebody who was supposed to be her supervisor, somebody who was supposed to be training her how to be a police officer, not somebody who is seeing eye to eye for her. This was somebody who could negatively affect her career from the early onset," Boice said.
Court documents say Trizuto confided in a lieutenant, who later reported the alleged sexual misconduct against her wishes. That's when Trizuto said her supervising lieutenant retaliated, allegedly yelling and belittling her in front of co-workers.
Trizuto then filed an internal complaint for retaliation.
"There was no punishment. They just said, 'This guy is an abrasive guy and you just have to deal with it,'" Boice said.
The lieutenant was reassigned, but Trizuto claims the harassment continued.
"The code of ethics specifically deals with harassment in the workplace and it specifically sets forth that this is not ok and this is not acceptable, but for some reason enforcing codes of ethics has been problematic for BP, in my opinion," Boice said.
Neither the City of Bellevue nor the Bellevue Police Department will comment on the lawsuit while it's pending.
The field training officer accused of sexual harassment is not part of the federal lawsuit because too much time has passed since the alleged harassment.
For nearly six years, officer Jan Auclair Trizuto has worn the Bellevue police uniform. She considers it a dream job, but now it's bringing a level of stress and anxiety she never imagined.
In a ten page lawsuit, Trizuto describes a culture of retaliation -- specifically from her former supervision lieutenant.
"He began really treating her poorly and she began exhibiting some of the tell-tale signs of harassment in the workplace," said Brian Boice, Trizuto's attorney.
Trizuto claims the retaliation started after an internal sexual harassment complaint was filed against Trizuto's field training officer. She claims he shared stories about his private parts and sexual experiences when they were alone in a patrol car.
"As a result she tried to buck up -- and (tried) to get through initial phase of training," Boice said.
Trizuto didn't immediately report the conduct because she feared she would become a target for retaliation, but a year later she said the sexual harassment continued through text messages.
"This is somebody who was supposed to be her supervisor, somebody who was supposed to be training her how to be a police officer, not somebody who is seeing eye to eye for her. This was somebody who could negatively affect her career from the early onset," Boice said.
Court documents say Trizuto confided in a lieutenant, who later reported the alleged sexual misconduct against her wishes. That's when Trizuto said her supervising lieutenant retaliated, allegedly yelling and belittling her in front of co-workers.
Trizuto then filed an internal complaint for retaliation.
"There was no punishment. They just said, 'This guy is an abrasive guy and you just have to deal with it,'" Boice said.
The lieutenant was reassigned, but Trizuto claims the harassment continued.
"The code of ethics specifically deals with harassment in the workplace and it specifically sets forth that this is not ok and this is not acceptable, but for some reason enforcing codes of ethics has been problematic for BP, in my opinion," Boice said.
Neither the City of Bellevue nor the Bellevue Police Department will comment on the lawsuit while it's pending.
The field training officer accused of sexual harassment is not part of the federal lawsuit because too much time has passed since the alleged harassment.
I worked for BPD for 8 years. I sued them for the same exact thing. The department is disgusting. Chief Pillo could care less. In my case she slapped the Lt. on the hand, while 3 female officers were harassed, retaliated upon, and quit. That Lt. still works there. I guess its ok to ask your employees if they will suck you dick, or grab them. I wouldn't be surprised if it is the same exact one who did it to this female officer who filed this lawsuit. The Bellevue Police Department is by far the most hostile and toxic place I have ever worked. Oh, and if you go to the Bellevue Human Resources like I did, MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT DO THAT! They are not there to help you. They are there to protect the city. I would love to testify against the BPD on this one. They are truly disturbed!Â
Humm... You were an officer, yet you failed to report this? Retaliation? Looks like your failure to do your job to the highest professional level is what occurred. That's why departments have a chain of command, policies and if all failed you legal recourse should be the last option considered.
@Funky-Munky It's clear that you do not know what goes through the mind of someone who is victimized this way in their workplace. When the people above you in the chain of command appear to not be trustworthy, it is an extremely difficult situation to be in. It isn't abnormal for people to wait a long time before reporting things like this as the victims often feel somewhat like, "Anything I say and do can and will be used against me..."Â
@Sovereign @Funky-Munky  She was an officer.... It was her job! The job doesn't afford wavering commitment... It's all or nothing! I empathize with her...
@Funky-Munky Its hard to do the right thing when you're surrounded in a culture of corruption because you never know how high the corruption goes and in almost all cases corruption starts at the top. Thats why there needs to be a civilian oversight committee who is free to investigate anyone in law enforcement and no law enforcement authority has any legal right to intrude in an investigation.
Corruption is usually so easy to cure. All thats required is transperancy. These are all public servants we all have the right to know exactly what is going on whether in local police agencies or anything our federal government is involved in. There is no legitimate excuse for any secrecy in this country.
Another reason why our law enforcement agencies need civilian oversight just like is required with the military. People in positions of power always need oversight. Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Just have a civilian agency that police officers can go to where the officers can remain anonymous until or if, evidence is found backing up their claims. Why in this country do we have to make things over complicated? Â
How do you correct a problem if you don't know it exists? She freely admits that she let it continue without reporting it for a year and even then she told the person not to tell anyone else. If there was retaliation once it did come out, then that is certainly wrong. In true KOMO fashion we are only getting her attorney's side of the story here.
Baby steps BPD it'll take some work to out do big brother SPD when it comes to losers with badges...
Given the conduct of the Bellevue Police at football games and other such incidents in the news, it doesn't surprise me at all. As the police always say "tell it to the judge".
What people are saying is amazing. You know nothing about this women, except for what the news wrote. I personally have no respect for the Bellevue Police Department. I've seen and heard how they act and treat each other. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if this truly did happen and I hope everyone can learn from it.Â
My guess she is a POS police officer and now is looking to for a way to retire
Bellevue cops are a creative and witty bunch when they sober up.
She is suing for "unlawful retaliation". Could someone explain to me what lawful retaliation might be?
@Furd It's when you have no case for sexual harassment.
@Getov Mylon  A+ for you!  two eyes on you... Ha!
@Funky-Munky
It's like robbing a bank and then they just ticket you for speeding in the getaway car. If a person is harassed in an actionable manner, sue for that first. After that, it should be easy for a settlement if there was any "retaliation." Of course, if you lose your harassment case...
She was trained how to react and report (if necessary)Â any violation of her personal boundaries. She did not object to the behaviour (thereby giving tacit approval). She did not report it as she was trained to. She did not follow her departments policy. Now she's gonna try to make some money.Â