Former Police Chief Adrian Diaz has been fired from the Seattle Police Department

SEATTLE — Former Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz was fired Tuesday amid allegations that he had a relationship with a former employee and lied about it.

Diaz and Jamie Tompkins, the former communications director, denied a romantic relationship.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell confirmed Diaz’s termination in a statement Tuesday.

“Based on the findings of the Office of Inspector General’s report, I have made the decision to remove Adrian Diaz from the Seattle Police Department,” Harrell said in the statement. “Although they take time, that’s why we conduct informed and thorough investigations and why we use facts to support decisions that are consistent with our city’s values. I want to thank the Office of Inspector General for this comprehensive investigation and look forward to announcing our next police chief in the near future.”

According to a letter from Harrell detailing the investigation’s findings, Diaz directly described to two subordinate employees that he had a romantic relationship with an unnamed employee. A handwritten letter from an employee describing their intimacy was found in a work vehicle, although Diaz denied its existence, Harrell’s letter said. A handwriting expert concluded it was “highly likely” the employee wrote the card.

The investigation revealed that Diaz appointed the employee to a position that did not exist at the time and had not formally existed for some time. Diaz said a job description was written that human resources helped create, but two members of the police command staff contradicted that claim. According to the letter, there was no formal application process and the position appeared to overlap with the director of strategy communications position held by another employee. The employee reported directly to Diaz and was accepted into his management team.

Harrell said in the letter that Diaz had not filed any conflict of interest reports or disclosures regarding the relationship with the employee. Investigators found that Diaz did not adhere to SPD policies, including dishonesty, professionalism, avoidance and disclosure of conflicts of interest, and inappropriate personal relationships.

Harrell met with Diaz on December 12 to discuss the report’s findings. At the meeting, Diaz said his relationship was platonic, criticized the objectivity of the investigation and questioned the credibility of several witnesses, Harrell’s letter said. The former police chief also said the investigator failed to obtain and review his phone records after being asked to do so. Harrell said Diaz has not made his phone available for inspection at this time.

Harrell requested that Diaz be fired from the department on Tuesday, days after the meeting.

“I am proud to have provided 27 years of service to the city of Seattle,” Diaz said Tuesday. “I was deeply saddened and surprised by Mayor Harrell’s decision today to terminate my employment. I strongly disagree with both the decision and the alleged reasons for it. From the beginning of this investigation, I have been honest and clear: I have never engaged in a romantic or inappropriate relationship with Ms. Tompkins.

The rushed investigation report that the mayor allegedly relied on is fundamentally flawed. The investigator chose to ignore key evidence, failed to interview key witnesses, and failed to preserve evidence, all of which would have exonerated me. There is no legitimate or lawful justification for this termination; This is an act of retaliation for my prior disclosure of my sexual orientation and my refusal to comply with what I believe to be an unlawful order from the mayor. I look forward to clearing my name and exposing the city’s retaliation.”

Diaz was moved to a new role on May 29, working on “special projects” for the SPD. Diaz and Tompkins were placed on paid administrative leave in October. Their connection was not known at the time.

In late October, Diaz filed a $10 million lawsuit against the city for discrimination and harassment. Diaz claimed he was wrongfully fired. Diaz claimed he was discriminated against, harassed and retaliated against after expressing his sexual orientation to Harrell and Deputy Mayor Tim Burgess.

Tompkins resigned from the department in November, a month before Diaz was fired.

“I support Chief Diaz and his family,” Tompkins said Tuesday. “The city has lost an outstanding public servant and a dedicated public servant. The allegation that Chief Diaz and I had a romantic or sexual relationship is completely false and extremely damaging to both his and my professional reputation.”

Diaz faces lawsuits from at least seven employees who have alleged racial and gender discrimination within the department, as well as a female officer who claims she experienced sexual harassment from the former police chief.

Harrell said earlier this year that he had appointed an independent investigator after several women in the Seattle department came forward with allegations of misconduct against him and other SPD leaders.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.