After facing allegations from 4 female police officers, Diaz, a former Seattle Police Chief, shares his side of the story with a radio talk show host.
Denial of Allegations
Adrien Diaz, the former Seattle Police Chief, denies the multiple allegations made by four female police officers.
Claims of Discrimination and Harassment
The allegations include instances of discrimination, harassment, and maintaining a hostile work environment.
Diaz Comes Out as Gay
While avidly denying the allegations, Diaz has also publicly said for the first time that he is gay. Diaz was removed from his position in May but did not speak publicly on the matter until recently.
The Radio Interview
Diaz discussed the allegations in a wide-ranging interview with Jason Rantz, a radio talk show host.
Diaz’s Self-Defense
Diaz said, “Just because you’re a gay man doesn’t mean you can’t be a misogynist, but I know who I am, and I know what I’ve done, and I know that I’ve always been true to myself and I’ve always treated people well and respectfully”.
Continued Denial
Diaz maintains that the allegations against him are all false or fabricated. “I think people want their own opportunities, and I was given the opportunity to serve as the chief,” Diaz said. Continuing, “I think there’s a lot of scrutiny and heartache. I think sometimes people feel like they deserve that opportunity.”
His Rise to Power
Diaz became the interim police chief in 2020, after Carmen Best, the previous chief, resigned. Diaz highlighted his successes during this time as an officer, mentioning that he helped the police department navigate the after effects of when John Williams, an indigenous woodworker, was shot and killed by the police in 2012.
The Accusers
There are four female officers that have banded together to bring Diaz to justice. Lauren, Truscott, Kame Spencer, Judinna Gulpan, and Valerie Carson filed a claim against Diaz, as well as John O’Neil and Rebecca McKechnie, the human resources manager.
Staying Silent
Neither O’Neil or McKechnie have issued a formal statement, or responded for comment.
Concerning Conduct
In the claim, the women mention that O’Neil made physical advances towards Kame Spencer, throwing his arms around her and touching her to the point that she felt uncomfortable.
Staying After Hours
They also say that Diaz would call Valerie Carson by her name unprofessionally, and made her stay late at work to listen to him brag about himself. In the claim, Carson said that she didn’t feel as though she could refuse to talk to Diaz after work hours, since he was the chief.
Predatory Behavior
The claim says, “Simply stated, chief Diaz seemingly engaged in predatory and discriminatory behavior”.
No Accountability
Continuing, “It is apparent that he does not reprimand others, such Sgt. O’Neil, because he sees nothing wrong with it.” The women’s attorney, Sumeer Singla could also not be reached for comment.
Other Allegations Surface
Previously this May, a 30-year veteran of the police department, Eric Greening also sued Diaz with allegations that Diaz personally retaliated against him after Greening reported his discriminatory practices as chief.
A Demotion
In the claim, Greening also says that Diaz rejected his deputy chief application as well as his reapplication to be an assistant chief, and demoted him to captain. Diaz also abolished the Collaborative Policing Bureau, which Greening was in charge of.
Demeaning Towards Women
Diaz is “demeaning to the women in the police force and has a history of misogyny” said 27-year police veteran Deanna Nollette.
The Gaps He Created
During her rise to assistant chief in 2018, Nollette accused Diaz of creating wage, gender, and job discrimination in the workplace.
Not at Liberty to Discuss the Lawsuit
Both Diaz and his attorney Ted Buck have not responded to media outlets requesting comment, and in the radio interview Diaz said he is not at liberty to discuss the current lawsuit.
Reputation in Jeopardy
Diaz did mention that he was upset about his reputation being in jeopardy, saying, “You’ve done a whole host of work, and people start to lose sight of that work when people are making accusations”.
Leadership Brings Scrutiny
Diaz continued, “Leadership brings scrutiny and I’m alright with that”.
Challenges of Coming Out
Diaz still thought about coming out of the closet while still married to his wife, but felt that he faced resistance from certain factions of the police department.
Job Hunt
On the hunt for a new job, Diaz claimed he had an initial interview to be the chief of the Austin Police Department. The interviews will not begin until next month, even though a recruiting firm has been seeking top candidates.
Unclear Candidacy
It is not clear if Diaz was one of those top candidates, and was contacted by their search team.
Diaz’s Hopes
Diaz said, “I hope people will see who I am and what I bring to the table, and I’m hoping for that opportunity and if not, I’ll go back to the drawing board”.
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Fractal Pictures.
