An attorney for the union representing Lakewood police officers and sergeants claimed in a Wednesday court hearing that Police Chief Patrick Smith is “ignoring” serious misconduct complaints by not allowing them to be internally investigated.
The attorney, Dan Thenell, said serious complaints of misconduct have instead been sent to Lakewood’s Human Resources department, where workplace investigations are conducted by a contracted law firm. Thenell said that allows the city to try to shield information under attorney-client privilege.
The allegations came during a hearing in Pierce County Superior Court where the Lakewood Police Independent Guild sought a temporary restraining order against the City of Lakewood. The guild brought the action after the city canceled interviews last week with two union members involved in a workplace investigation because the city refused to allow the members to make audio recordings of the interviews…