MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Chiefs’ resignations point to ‘dysfunction’ in King County Sheriff’s Office

Aug 13, 2019, 2:49 PM | Updated: 11:14 pm

LEAD, 5th LD, king county, Covington...

(King County Sheriff's Office)

(King County Sheriff's Office)

Two division chiefs in the King County Sheriff’s Office, appointed by Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht, resigned within a month of each other because of what they describe as a dysfunctional department.

Dow Constantine accused of using elite detectives as personal chauffeurs
Source: King County Exec. Constantine retaliated against sheriff’s detective

According to documents obtained through a public disclosure request, Chief of Field Operations Lisa Mulligan left on July 1 out of frustration with the direction of the sheriff’s office.

The resignation letter has sharp criticism for Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht and Undersheriff Scott Somers.

“I have come to this after countless hours of deliberating over the current management culture we are operating within and have created for our subordinates. I will make an attempt to outline my concerns but admit that I find it difficult to pinpoint one particular problem. There are many and they all lead me to know with clarity, that we are not an effective management team. Nor are we being led, encouraged or supported to become one. Sadly, with no efforts in place to try to overcome the dysfunction, I believe we are destined to continue down this futile path, with no end in sight.”

“The team you selected, although still learning, is skilled and talented; capable of leading great outcomes for the department on your behalf,” the letter continued. “Yet you seem consistently reluctant to trust them to do the work or encourage them to lead in a way that could make us all better. As a result, I fear that our once thriving department will fail to thrive into the future.”

Chief of the Intelligence Unit Jerrell Wills also left the sheriff’s office, on July 31.

A source, who KIRO Radio agreed to not name in this report, shared a 12-page complaint submitted by Wills to the Internal Investigations Unit titled, “Threatening Space.”

Among other things, Wills alleges Sheriff Johanknecht was rude and condescending, and that Undersheriff Scott Somers was a retaliatory bully.

Wills alleges that over 14 months working beneath Undersheriff Somers, he was bullied and marginalized. He also noted that the work environment was so toxic, he felt unsafe as a black man. He claimed the undersheriff attempted to humiliate Wills into submission, and when he wouldn’t submit, the undersheriff went on a retaliatory campaign to undermine his authority and ability to his job.

Wills’ complaint also alleges he had requested an investigation into how the undersheriff had been treating him. His case is currently under litigation.

Both Mulligan and Wills have since taken positions with the county’s training facility.

MyNorthwest News

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

11 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

13 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

14 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

14 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

15 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

18 hours ago

Chiefs’ resignations point to ‘dysfunction’ in King County Sheriff’s Office