The former chief of staff at the Seattle Police Department is demanding the city pay her $3 million over alleged pervasive sexual harassment in the workplace stemming from a rumor that she had a sexual relationship with the ex-chief, according to a report.
Jamie Tompkins, a former news anchor turned chief of staff to ex-Police Chief Adrian Diaz, suffered from a “sexually hostile” workplace that extended from patrol cops to top brass — even all the way up to city hall when the mayor said he’d “do” her, she claimed in the suit obtained by Fox 13 Seattle.
The allegations of a relationship began as soon as the former Fox 13 anchor decided to leave her news gig to work for Diaz in May 2023, and were amplified to outrageous proportions while working at police headquarters, according to a demand letter addressed to Mayor Bruce Harrell.
Before even starting the gig, Tompkins, 42, was approached by a reporter who informed her that SPD officers already had a commonly held belief that she and Chief Diaz were knocking city-issued boots. Those rumors were fueled by several assistant chiefs — including another Fox 13 colleague who also left the station to join the police department, according to the letter.
After starting as chief of staff, Tompkins, who is married and the mother of three children, claimed the harassment was constant.
In one surreal exchange, female Command Team member Heather Marx went into Tompkin’s office and told her flatly it was “OK” that she was “sleeping with the chief,” the document claims.
Tompkins reported the incident to SPD Human Resources and was then surreally told by one assistant chief that “if she looked like Heather Marx, she wouldn’t be treated this way,” the letter stated.
One officer exhibited startling behavior, taking unauthorized photos of Tompkins, revealing he watched her on surveillance cameras, and stating he could track her by scent, the letter alleged.
Another female officer was found to have staked out her house in an attempt to catch Tompkins and the chief in the act, resulting in the former news anchor securing a restraining order against that officer, Fox 13 reported.
Rumors became so pervasive that Chief Diaz had to address the issue with Mayor Harrell — who did not seem too bothered, Tompkins claimed.
In a July 2023 meeting, Harrell told the chief that it would be “alright” if Diaz slept with Tompkins — adding he would “do” her, the letter alleged.
The chief maintained that they were not having an affair and that it would not have been “alright” were the two married city employees engaged in a sexual relationship.
Diaz was later fired by Harrell after a nausea-inducing love letter — presumed to be written by Tompkins — was found in the former chief’s department-issued SUV.
That sappy letter referred to Diaz “like a prince in one of your Disney movies.”
While attempting to combat the allegations, Diaz, who is married to a woman with whom he shares three children, announced in an interview that he is gay.
“It’s a story that I’ve struggled with, over the last four years, that I’m a gay Latino man,” Diaz told the eponymous host of “The Jason Rantz Show.”
Diaz is also suing the city, filing a $10 million tort claim against Harrell and “several other city employees” for his wrongful termination last year, Fox 13 reported.
Harrell’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
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