On Wednesday, Adrian Diaz, the former Chief of the Seattle Police Department (SPD), filed a lawsuit in King County Superior Court against the City of Seattle and Mayor Bruce Harrell, alleging wrongful termination, retaliation, defamation, and violations of state and municipal laws. The 25-page complaint details a retaliatory campaign that Diaz claims destroyed his 27-year law enforcement career after he resisted political pressure to bypass due process in disciplining SPD officers.
This lawsuit represents the latest blow to Harrell, who is facing widespread criticism for branding Christian worshippers as “far-right” after a violent clash at a permitted rally, prompting calls for his resignation from faith leaders.
Diaz, who joined the SPD in 1997, was appointed permanent Chief of Police in September 2022 by Harrell. In the lawsuit, Diaz alleges that his commitment to upholding the Seattle Accountability Ordinance and Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) Chapter 3.29, which ensures due process for officers, sparked a retaliatory campaign against him.
The complaint, obtained by The Post Millennial, centers on Diaz’s refusal to comply with directives from the Mayor’s Office, including Harrell and Deputy Mayor Tim Burgess, to discipline officers without due process. A key incident involved SPD officer Dan Auderer, who was recorded making insensitive remarks about a civilian killed by another officer.
Public outcry demanded swift action, but Diaz resisted Harrell’s directive to fire Auderer immediately, insisting on proper procedures. Harrell reportedly told Diaz, “My chief does what I want, the union doesn’t fire you—I do.” Similar disputes arose over other cases, including a senior officer’s inappropriate comments about a transgender teenager, where Burgess allegedly instructed Diaz to “make it go away.”
Diaz alleges that his refusal to fire Auderer without due process triggered swift retaliation. On May 6, 2024, Diaz informed Burgess he would issue Auderer a 30-day suspension. Within days, the City began moves to replace Diaz, contacting former King County Sheriff Sue Rahr to serve as Interim Chief. On May 15, 2024, the City hired attorney Shayda Le to investigate a year-old anonymous complaint alleging a romantic relationship between Diaz and his Chief of Staff, Jamie Tompkins—a claim previously dismissed as baseless by the City and Harrell, who once made a crude remark about Tompkins in a meeting, according to the complaint.
On May 29, 2024, Harrell discharged Diaz as chief and reassigned him to a “Special Projects” role with no real duties, described as a “public humiliation.” The investigation by Le was deeply flawed, the lawsuit claims. Le ignored exculpatory evidence, such as Diaz’s offer to provide his phone for forensic inspection, refused to interview key witnesses, and relied heavily on a questionable “love letter” purportedly from Tompkins to Diaz. Both of them refute the allegations.
A handwriting analysis conducted by experts, as first reported by The Post Millennial, undermines the City’s investigation. The analysis compared the disputed “love letter” with known samples of Tompkins’ handwriting and found significant discrepancies, concluding it was “highly probable” that Tompkins did not write the letter. The report noted differences in letter formation, slant, and other characteristics, suggesting the letter was a forgery. Diaz’s legal team argues this evidence, which the City ignored, proves the allegations were fabricated. The complaint notes that the City mishandled the letter’s chain of custody, as it was presented by a witness who claimed to have found it 14 months earlier but kept it in their possession.
Former Senior Deputy Mayor Monisha Harrell, the mayor’s niece, who had firsthand knowledge of Tompkins’ appointment as Chief of Staff, claims she was never contacted during the investigation, according to FOX 13 Seattle. Harrell alleges that rumors about Diaz and Tompkins may have originated within the Mayor’s Office before Tompkins’ tenure began, suggesting a premeditated effort to target Diaz. She is willing to testify that the goal was to “get rid of Diaz,” with Tompkins as “collateral damage.” Her exclusion from the investigation bolsters Diaz’s claims of bias and a rushed process.
The lawsuit accuses Inspector General Lisa Judge of violating Washington’s Public Records Act (PRA) by selectively leaking investigation records to certain media outlets without notifying Diaz, undermining transparency. These leaks, combined with Harrell’s public statements accusing Diaz of dishonesty, unprofessional conduct, and an improper relationship, form the basis of defamation and false light claims. Diaz alleges Harrell’s remarks, made with “actual malice,” irreparably damaged his reputation. The City also reported Diaz for misconduct to the Washington State Employment Security Department and the Criminal Justice Training Commission, triggering a decertification investigation, though an administrative law judge later overturned a denial of unemployment benefits, citing the City’s flawed investigation.
Diaz claims the City violated Washington’s Wage Rebate Act and Seattle’s Wage Theft Ordinance by misclassifying his accrued executive leave as sick leave, resulting in a financial shortfall of tens of thousands of dollars. The lawsuit also cites retaliation under Washington’s Law Against Discrimination and the Silenced No More Act, alleging the City punished Diaz for opposing sexual harassment faced by Tompkins and for upholding public policy.
Diaz seeks economic damages for lost wages, front and back pay, and benefits, as well as non-economic damages for emotional distress and reputational harm. He also requests declaratory and injunctive relief for PRA violations, statutory damages, and attorneys’ fees. The complaint portrays Diaz as a principled leader targeted for resisting political interference, with devastating consequences.
“This wrongful termination humiliated Chief Diaz, destroyed his 27-year law enforcement career, forever ruined his name and professional reputation, and ended his ability to obtain commensurate employment ever again,” the complaint states.
