Seattle to pay $2.6M to settle sexual harassment claims against ex-chief

The city of Seattle has agreed to pay $2.6 million to settle a lawsuit filed by four female officers at the Seattle Police Department who accused former Chief Adrian Diaz of sexual harassment, gender discrimination and creating a hostile work environment.

Officers Lauren Truscott, Valerie Carson, Kame Spencer and Judinna "Jean" Gulpan filed the lawsuit in April 2024, one of a series of lawsuits filed against Diaz and members of his command staff.

The lawsuit named Diaz, Lt. John O'Neil and former Assistant Chief Dan Nelson, among others, accusing them of sexual harassment. A tort claim filed by the officers at the time asked for $5 million.

O'Neil settled a lawsuit against the department in February 2025, receiving $200,000 over allegations of retaliation, harassment and racial discrimination by the same four women.

The lawsuit rocked the department and precipitated the end of Diaz's tenure as chief and replacement by interim Chief Sue Rahr and Chief Shon Barnes.

Diaz later left the department after an investigation and report by the office of the inspector general suggested he had had a romantic relationship with his chief of staff, Jamie Tompkins. Tompkins has a lawsuit pending against the city and department.

The female officers' lawsuit alleged that Diaz engaged in "predatory and discriminatory behavior," and, along with other department leaders including O'Neil and human resources manager Rebecca McKechnie, allowed a culture of misogyny and sexism to permeate the department.

The lawsuit adds that the women experienced further retaliation after the lawsuit was filed, and states that allegations against them were filed with the office of police accountability by staff members friendly with Diaz.

It claimed that Diaz and other members of the command staff attended roll-call meetings in several SPD precincts where officers were told to not believe the lies being spread by individuals who hate the department" and only to believe information that came from the chief's office.

A culture of sexism and misogyny within SPD was outlined in a "30x30" initiative - outlining plans to have 30% of SPD's rank and file be women by the year 2030 - which documented this culture.

All four of the women who sued held prominent, public-facing roles within SPD - including community outreach, recruiting and media relations - when they sued.

Sumeer Singla, who represented the women, said accountability in law enforcement is a must. He said the current SPD administration, under Chief Shon Barnes, "is recognizing the gaps in behavior in the prior administration and is trying to turn the page."

Even so, Singla said, "I'm not sure it's the cultural shift everybody wants it to be."

The lawsuit claimed O'Neil, who at the time oversaw the Public Affairs Unit, engaged in "grooming and predatory" behavior toward multiple women. During a 2021 meeting, he allegedly placed his leg against Spencer's and suggested she move in with him.

The lawsuit alleges that another accusing officer, Gulpan, was denied a position as a sergeant because of discrimination, even though she had passed the requisite exam.

In 2022, the lawsuit alleged, O'Neil invited Gulpan to Las Vegas with a group of other officers during the first week of the NFL season. Upon arrival, Gulpan noticed most of the officers were with their partners on the trip, but Gulpan and O'Neil were among the few singles there.

O'Neil allegedly told Gulpan the entire group would join them at the hotel to watch a football game, but no one else showed up, and Gulpan watched the game and went to dinner alone with O'Neil, according to the lawsuit. At dinner, O'Neil discussed his dating history and said something to the effect of "I'm really good at sex," according to the lawsuit. He was Gulpan's supervisor at the time.

When they returned to Seattle, there was a rumor in the department that Gulpan and O'Neil had slept together on the trip, according to the claim. Gulpan alleges that when she confronted O'Neil about the rumor, he said something like, "that would be a feather in my cap," according to the lawsuit.

Carson claimed Diaz groomed her, offering to replace the windows in her home, and made comments about her attire that made Carson feel uncomfortable, including walking into her cubicle while she was changing.

After the women's claim was filed and his removal as chief, Diaz denied the allegations against him and announced he was gay in an interview on The Jason Rantz Show.

Three of the four women officers remain employed by SPD. Truscott has retired, "partly due to the stress of this litigation," Singla said.

The city attorney's office said the settlement "allows all parties to move forward.

The settlement makes no admission of wrongdoing by anyone involved.

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