Snohomish County deputy sues police academy, trainer over sexual harassment allegations

Two former cadets at Washington’s police academy have filed a lawsuit alleging they and several other female colleagues endured months of sexual harassment by their instructor, a former Port of Seattle police officer now facing possible decertification.

Snohomish County sheriff’s Deputy Haydyn Wagner and Port Orchard police Officer Aimee Allen alleged in the lawsuit that Officer LeLand Allen, their instructor, used his power and authority to sexually harass and touch the female recruits of Basic Law Enforcement Academy Class 828, which graduated in February 2022.

The class contained six female cadets, all of whom complained at one point or another about the Port of Seattle officer who had contracted with BLEA as their “TAC” — “Training, Advising, Counseling” — officer, according to the lawsuit filed Oct. 13.

LeLand Allen is no longer employed by the Port of Seattle, which had hired him in 2018. An independent investigation conducted by Northwest Workplace Law, referenced in the complaint and obtained through public disclosure, concluded a “preponderance of the evidence supported the allegations.”

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/snohomish-county-deputy-sues-police-academy-trainer-over-sexual-harassment-allegations/