TACOMA — Pierce County has reached a $200,000 settlement with a Sheriff’s Department lieutenant who sued the agency last year, alleging leadership discriminated against her and other women.
Lt. Jessica Whitehead’s lawsuit against the agency, its Human Resources department and three male employees claimed she was punished for asking to not be assigned to child-violence investigations following the death of her stepdaughter in 2019. Whitehead also contended a complaint to HR was mishandled. For asking for that accommodation, Whitehead, a 16-year veteran, asserted that the Sheriff’s Department’s second-in-command called her and other female employees “b——.”
Undersheriff Brent Bomkamp wrote in a court filing that he never said it, and he wouldn’t ever refer to women at the Sheriff’s Department as such. He said it was a rumor.
Whitehead’s attorney, John Cummings, told The News Tribune a disinterested third party could corroborate his client’s report, but it made sense to settle the case. He said Whitehead was a “hero” for speaking up.
