Associate
A female deputy with the goal of joining police ranks to help better serve her community has settled her lawsuit against Washington’s law enforcement training academy, the Federal Way Police Department, and training officer Richard Klein.
The lawsuit alleged that the Academy (which is mandatory for law enforcement officers) maintained and perpetuated a workplace culture deeply ingrained with sexism and sexual harassment, where misconduct was widespread and systematically tolerated. This is the third female officer represented by The Stritmatter Firm against the Academy.
Deputy Ricksecker, now a respected member of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office and the department’s Honor Guard, alleged that she endured repeated offensive harassment and assault at the hands of her training officer. This included renaming her “Ricksucker.” And instructing her to be the subject while he demonstrated to the class, how to search “Hoes and Hookers.” He used a baton, to roam completely over and “jiggle” her breasts. He fully grabbed onto and jiggled her buttocks.
Deputy Ricksecker says, “The culture in the Academy was bigoted and toxic. The trainees were expected to shut our mouths and move through it. We all deserve much better from the institution that is responsible for setting professional standards in the training of new recruits.”
According to Karen Koehler and Debbie Silberman, her attorneys, “Female recruits came to the Academy full of idealism. They wanted to protect and serve their communities and looked forward to receiving the best professional training possible. Instead, they were belittled, humiliated, and assaulted. Women entering law enforcement shouldn’t have to survive sexual harassment just to wear the badge.”
In addition to the civil lawsuit, the State filed decertification proceedings against the training officer.
Even so, Federal Way city spokesperson David Solano wrote in an email to the HeraldNet newspaper that the city “fully supports and stands by Officer Klein.” He went further to state “…we stand by Officer Klein 100 percent.”
Plaintiff’s legal team: Karen Koehler, Debbie Silberman, Mo Hamoudi. Paralegal Rory Larson.
For more information or to speak with the legal team, contact: Kassie Seaton
Stritmatter Kessler Koehler Moore (The Stritmatter Firm) is a nationally recognized law firm based in Seattle, Washington, known for its dedication to representing victims of wrongful death, serious personal injuries, and civil rights violations.