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 Linda Thomas
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BellevuePDHQ.jpg
Did the Bellevue Police Department allow a hostile work environment to continue? A U.S. District Court suit claims one officer bragged about his sexual exploits around others. An offended officer is now suing. (Linda Thomas photo)

Bellevue Police Department sued by one of its officers

March 17, 2013 @ 6:46 pm (Updated: 7:20 pm - 3/17/13 )

A Bellevue police officer is suing the department saying a fellow cop created a hostile workplace.

Officer Jan Auclair Trizuto's complaint, filed in U.S. District Court, says the coworker spoke openly about his sexual experiences.

A source within the department supports officer Trizuoto's claim. The source tells me the cop in question talked about his own body parts and compared himself with others.

Trizuto also claims the officer sent her sexually suggestive text messages, which she didn't report because she feared retaliation.

In the 10-page complaint, obtained by KOMO TV, Officer Trizuoto says her supervisor intimidated her after she discussed the fellow officer's inappropriate discussions about sexual exploits.

Bellevue has had a series of incidents reflect negatively on the police department, run by Chief Linda Pillo.

Two members of the command staff were demoted for extramarital affairs. Last year, two officers were disciplined for drunken behavior before, during and after they were tossed out of a Seahawks game at CenturyLink Field.

Meanwhile, investigators have made no progress in resolving two high profile cases:

Taxpayers support the mother of a missing Bellevue toddler

The disappearance of Sky Metalwala, whose mother reported the toddler disappeared after she left him in an unlocked car to get gas for her vehicle. They later determined there was nothing wrong with the car.

Police theory on severe beating of popular young man

The beating of J.D. Aylward, who suffered injuries so severe part of his skull had to be removed. One of the working theories, according to an inside source, is that the young man just fell.

The city manager, city council, and mayor have all voiced support for the Bellevue PD and its chief. I'll check with them Monday to see if they have any concerns about the department in light of this additional issue.

By LINDA THOMAS

More from Linda Thomas

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Comments (32)


  • Add A Comment

  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Why would they demote two cops for extra-marital affairs?
    March 17, 2013 7:15 pm
    Did the infidelity affect their police work? If not, stay the heck out of other peoples lives.

    That said, the outboard motor lovin' cop who can't stop telling female cops about his high powered Johnson with the long shaft? No excuse for that, especially if the female cops have said they would rather not hear about it.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    @ Chuck Gould
    March 17, 2013 7:41 pm
    It's called a code of conduct.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cash wrote...
    @chuck
    March 17, 2013 7:51 pm
    Yes it did affect their work and the Department in whole and both deserved punishment. If it was just an off-duty thing I would agree but it was not and spilled into the work place. BPD has always had issued with this so hopefully they will fix these issues and get back to being a police department and not a reality TV show...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • R L M 456 wrote...
    Now the Bellevue Police guild has a problem
    March 18, 2013 7:09 am
    what side of this story do we back

    the "good ol boy" -"can do no wrong" officer

    or the "good ol boy" -"can do no wrong" department.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DesertRez wrote...
    Probably neither of those
    March 18, 2013 7:28 am
    We just had a training from the corporate lawyer. You would be amazed at what you can be sued or disciplined for these days.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    And here we go again..
    March 18, 2013 7:46 am
    Something for the media to chew on for a bit. Seems the BPD is a convenient target, perhaps well deserved. Lets keep reminding ourselves however, that this is the 21st century. Anyone can be sued for hurting someone else's feelings.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • murr wrote...
    The tax payers on the hook
    March 18, 2013 8:59 am
    Both ways. You show me one bit of evidence that someone will pay any damages. I think just another sc-ewing the public gets, and often.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sportsguru wrote...
    I have said it before, I will say it again
    March 18, 2013 9:06 am

    The police department is the BIGGEST criminal organization in AMERICA. Murder, mayhem, drug dealing, drug abuse, lying, cheating and stealing.

    I have absolutely no respect for ANY form of police and/or the people that work for them.

    I will solve my own crimes or just eat the losses.

    Darn criminals, and let's include the justice department in all this as well because the crime starts at the top and trickle down to the minions that create havoc in our communities.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ontos wrote...
    Mercer Island PD
    March 18, 2013 10:57 am
    Is both a criminal organization, and inept. The latter attribute is the only saving grace.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zoeller wrote...
    It sounds like Chief Linda Pillo Has -
    March 18, 2013 9:22 am
    Lost all control of the BPD and maybe it is time to step down and let someone else take over.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Nervoso wrote...
    Linda Pillo
    March 18, 2013 10:03 am
    has the whole dept biting one
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HLC wrote...
    His sexual exploits?
    March 18, 2013 11:40 am
    Probably Old Lady Thumb and Her Four Daughters.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    Pervert
    March 18, 2013 12:12 pm
    I've worked with people like this, they think people want to hear about their sexual exploits... most likely untrue sexual exploits... I'm a guy and i don't want to fackin hear about it... with issues like this, i think of it like this, if my wife or sister or whatever woman in your life was working there would you be okay with a guy like this talkin like that? fack no, so i hope the guy that spends all his time talkin about this crap gets fired... fack him.. usually those guys aren't worth anything anyways... just a dude with little D syndrome... anybody that's secure with themselves doesn't feel the need to boast about what they got.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Cbrew
    March 18, 2013 12:45 pm
    Touche'
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dexterjibs wrote...
    Cashing in at the right time
    March 18, 2013 3:48 pm
    with everything going on, this broad will make a quick buck at the tax payer expense. Another frivilous lawsuit that will be rewarded.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • froggy wrote...
    Oh, I think you'll see a high ranking retirement soon.
    March 18, 2013 5:08 pm
    The Bellevue Chief has to be retirement age, so if anything, that's what you'll see from her if things start getting too hot. I understand why the unions get blamed for the retention of bad employees, but really it is the supervisors and management that is usually at fault. There are rules that have to be followed and when they aren't, that's when bad employees are retained. The union employees don't like bad employees because it makes them all look bad, but you have to support your rules. When supervisors don't document bad behavior like they are supposed to then the bad employees get to skate. So start yelling at the bosses to get better supervisors or get better bosses. And just so ya know, if this guy did what is being said he did, he should be terminated. And so should the lieutenant that did nothing.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }