Investigation refutes officer’s allegations of ‘toxic’ gender bias at Pullman Police Dept

The Pullman Police Department recently hired an employment attorney to investigate allegations of gender discrimination after a longtime female officer described unfair treatment, a “toxic” work culture and other concerns.

Pullman Police Officer Heidi Lambley, the longest-serving female officer with 16 years at the department, brought a number of workplace complaints to city officials last year. A Seattle attorney hired to investigate later disputed those allegations, instead blaming interpersonal “friction” on Lambley.

In emails and reports obtained by Whitman County Watch, Lambley alleged dismissive or condescending treatment of female officers, troubling interactions with crime victims, inconsistent backup support and officers wasting time on the internet at the station.

“We have two major issues,” Lambley wrote to the investigating attorney in October. “The long term culture which has accepted and allowed the women employees to be treated as second class citizens. This culture allowed female victims to be disregarded. The second issue is primarily newer officers who fail to understand that everyone deserves respect.”

Lambley recently told Whitman County Watch she highly respects her fellow officers and raised her concerns in an effort to improve the department’s working environment. She has since felt attacked by the resulting investigation, which she considers unfair and inaccurate. She said the findings may also make others less likely to speak up.

Police Chief Gary Jenkins said city officials decided to hire an employment attorney — Rebecca Dean of Seattle — to conduct a third-party investigation due to the broad scope of the allegations. While other law enforcement agencies sometimes take over cases involving local officers, Jenkins said this was his first time seeking a civilian review of department conduct.

“From everything I’ve seen and heard,” Jenkins said, “[female officers] are treated as equals, they’re well-respected.”

Lambley initially brought concerns about the department working environment to the city administrator in late 2019. When she returned to patrol work in January 2020 after five years on a detective rotation, she followed up with more specific allegations.

In investigation records and notes, Lambley stated she believed female officers faced social exclusion, gendered performance criticism and disparaging gossip. She also reported male officers making insensitive or callous remarks about crime victims, at least once in their presence.

When Lambley was named Officer-in-Charge of her shift last summer, another officer emailed his supervisor, “This is a joke, right?” The officer claimed Lambley was promoted over others with more seniority.

Lambley detailed many instances of alleged slights or unprofessional conduct from the past year in a 10-page note to the investigating attorney. Emails also show Lambley repeatedly seeking constructive counsel from her sergeant on how to improve relations with the other officers on her shift.

For the investigation into the allegations, Seattle attorney Dean conducted Zoom interviews with all five female officers and other staff at the department, starting in August. She also reviewed email exchanges and other documents before issuing a 43-page report in late November. The report did not confirm any evidence of gender discrimination.

“Lambley is the only woman who stated concerns about their current work environment,” the report states, concluding, “There was, in each instance, credible evidence of a reason for the situation other than Lambley’s gender.”

Dean’s report attributed recent interpersonal conflicts to Lambley, describing her as sometimes confrontational and accusatory. The report states others provided examples of rude, hostile or condescending remarks or interactions with fellow officers.

“The evidence did show that there was significant friction between Lambley and some of her colleagues,” the report states. “In my assessment, that friction was caused, to a substantial degree, by Lambley’s behavior and communication style.”

Jenkins confirmed Dean received $5,576 for the investigation with half coming from the police budget and half from the city’s insurance carrier. Other news reports listed Dean’s hourly rate as $250, suggesting approximately 22 billable hours on this matter.

Dean has found instances of gender discrimination or workplace hostility at other government agencies elsewhere in the state, according to several news reports. Some of those investigations cost between $20,000 and $50,000 to conduct.

The department’s internal affairs report closed the complaint as unfounded and cleared the four officers named in the concerns. Internal investigations previously substantiated sexual harassment complaints against three Pullman Police officers in 2016. None of those individuals still work at the department.

Lambley’s private attorney Jenna Brozik, who was retained after the recent investigation concluded, called the investigation process “hostile” to Lambley and seemingly partial to the entities paying for the review.

“Obviously [the investigator] took a side here and made an argument for that side,” Brozik said, adding, “It was a biased and unprofessional investigation. … The investigator tried to turn it around on Officer Lambley, which was inappropriate and unwarranted.”

Brozik argued the findings reflected a double standard applied to female professionals that characterizes traits like confidence or assertiveness as problematic when exhibited by women instead of men. She said those same traits get labeled condescending or confrontational.

Bringing forward the alleged discrimination had “backfired” against Lambley, Brozik said. Other officers, especially those with less seniority, may now hesitate to call out future problems.

“Do you think anybody else is going to speak up after this investigation?” Brozik asked.

Police Chief Jenkins acknowledged Lambley has a unique perspective on the department as its most senior female officer. (He said a former female officer rose to the rank of sergeant at the department before he took over as chief.)

Jenkins also noted six of his last 12 officer hires were women. The next most senior female officer started at the department in 2016.

The police chief also recognized concerns about officers spending more time at the station, often making phone calls or sending emails instead of having face-to-face contacts amid the ongoing pandemic. He said the department is working to find a better balance on keeping officers out in the community.

In a phone interview, Lambley described the investigation process as “very painful.” She said she did not receive support or advocacy from the Pullman Police Officers Guild during the investigation, but still has great respect for her fellow officers. She described some as brothers.

She said she never wanted anyone punished, but hoped the department would take a hard look at how it could do better by its female officers.

“What kept me here is my trust in my coworkers,” she said, adding, “It’s not my coworkers who conducted this investigation.”

Brozik said the potential for further retaliation has remained a concern in the wake of the investigation. Lambley said she is not looking into legal options. She considers the matter “over,” and hopes to move forward from the process.

Jenkins said he has met with all the officers involved and would not tolerate any retaliation. He said there had been no other staffing changes or discipline imposed as a result of the investigation.