Ex-chief Adrian Diaz fired from SPD for alleged ‘intimate’ relationship with staffer

Adrian Diaz, the former Seattle police chief, has been fired from the department, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell’s office confirmed to KIRO Newsradio Tuesday morning.

Harrell told the Seattle City Council he fired Diaz after seeing the results of an investigation into the former police chief’s behavior.

That investigation claims Diaz had “an intimate or romantic relationship” with a former police department employee — one he allegedly hired and supervised for a position he created.

Jamie Tompkins, a former Seattle television anchor, resigned from per position as SPD’s director of communications last month. In a statement to “The Jason Rantz Show” on KTTH, she denied that she was in a “romantic or sexual relationship” with Diaz.

“I support Chief Diaz and his family,” Tompkins said. “The city has lost a fine public servant and a dedicated officer. The allegation that Chief Diaz and I were in a romantic or sexual relationship is completely false and highly damaging to both his and my professional reputations.”

Political analyst Matt Markovich appeared on KIRO Newsradio’s “The John Curley Show” Tuesday and broke down exactly why Diaz was fired from the SPD.

“He did not acknowledge apparent conflict of interest. That’s what the inspector general just found out,” Markovich said. “It violated the professionalism and most importantly, the No. 1 thing dishonesty in the policy. That’s what he was fired for. Not all the other stuff you heard about all the lawsuits and everything else. He was fired for being dishonest, (not being) professional, avoiding disclosing conflicts of interest and an improper relationship with a subordinate.”

Markovich also discussed Diaz’s compensation, noting he was getting paid his full yearly salary as SPD chief — nearly $340,000 — until he was fired Tuesday. Now that he has been terminated, he won’t receive another dollar from the department.

Head here or tap on the player below to listen to Markovich’s discussion of the Diaz firing, including his personal connection to the events that have unfolded in this case, on “The John Curley Show.”

Earlier on KIRO Newsradio’s “The Gee and Ursula Show,” Markovich noted how new an investigation like this is for the city.

“Is the first time — because of new legislation that passed two years ago — that the Office of Inspector General has investigated a police chief and alleged misgivings … against that chief, either civil or criminal,” Markovich said.

“Now the office of the inspector general has already put this report out, finding … that the that the chief lied,” he added. “This has never happened before in the city … There’s never been this type of investigation into police chief, and now that this one is done, the other investigations led by the mayor as well.”

Head here or tap on the player below to listen to Markovich’s earlier discussion on the Diaz firing on “The Gee and Ursula Show.”

Adrian Diaz removed as SPD chief in May

Harrell announced May 29 that Diaz would be removed as the chief of the department, amid lawsuits claiming discrimination and harassment. That’s when Rahr, the former King County sheriff, was going to come out of retirement to become interim chief for the foreseeable future.

After that, Diaz had been reassigned to work on what was referred to as “special assignments.”

At that time, Harrell said Rahr had no plans to become the permanent chief and will assist Harrell and former police Chief Kathleen O’Toole in a national search for Diaz’s replacement.

Rantz Exclusive: Former Seattle police Chief Adrian Diaz announces he’s gay

A claim of dishonesty to investigators and a potential violation of department policy led Rahr to place Diaz on administrative leave from his position working on “special assignments” in October.

That information came in a letter sent by Seattle Inspector General Lisa Judge to Harrell, City Council President Sara Nelson, City Attorney Ann Davison and the Public Safety Committee chair.

Contributing: Matt Markovich and Sam Campbell, KIRO Newsradio; Steve Coogan, MyNorthwest