Former Snoqualmie Police Chief Brian Lynch exercised favoritism and workplace misconduct, according to an investigation done by a Seattle employment attorney.

After putting Lynch on leave in February, the city of Snoqualmie hired Brenda Bannon, senior counsel for Seattle employment law firm Ogletree Deakins, to conduct an investigation, which she submitted to the city on April 4 before Lynch was terminated April 10. The report details several allegations against Lynch, several of which Bannon said did occur and others that could not be confirmed or that Lynch denied.

Allegations that did occur, according to the report, include:

• Lynch referring to women he disagrees with as “bitches;”

• Lynch telling a sexualized joke in front of a teenage girl who was interning at the department;

• While in the lunchroom, Lynch asking a civilian employee who needed hand surgery if she hurt her hand “jerking off” her husband;

• Lynch rating women’s physical appearance on a numerical scale aloud in the workplace;

• Lynch routinely using social media in the workplace and sometimes calling employees over to look at photos of a “hot babe;”

• Lynch telling the school resource officer (SRO) that the SRO would be giving a recruit a “blow job” out of excitement they were joining the force.

Additionally, a mobility-impaired employee told the investigator that Lynch had made several jokes to her, such as saying “run, Forrest, run,” referencing the movie “Forrest Gump,” or telling her she can’t run when she says she is going to “run” an errand.

Lynch denied an allegation that he had said a woman officer recruit who had several children should not be hired because she “couldn’t keep her legs together.” Two witnesses recalled the commentary to Bannon.

During the investigation, Lynch told Bannon that he “makes jokes in the workplace to relieve the stress of police work,” according to the report, adding that it has never been his intention to hurt others.

Bannon also wrote that there is a consensus of evidence that staff have been able to be substantially more efficient and productive in since Lynch was put on leave in February.

“Based on the weight of the credible evidence, and the above-summarized founded allegations, the investigator concludes that the chief has repeatedly engaged in behavior and communications that have blurred lines of personal and professional responsibilities and expectations and have created workplace scenarios for many employees that lack professional boundaries and reasonable workplace environment,” the report concludes.

City of Snoqualmie Executive Summary Report_Redacted by andy.hobbs on Scribd