Ex-Seattle officials say OIG botched Chief Diaz, Jamie Tompkins affair probe
Two former Seattle officials, including Jamie Tompkins, claim the Office of Inspector General mishandled its investigation into rumors of her affair with ex-Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz.
Tompkins alleges misconduct by a key witness: Officer Tay Gray-McVey, who she says sexually harassed her and had a conflict of interest in the case.
A whistleblower lawsuit from a former OIG records manager claims the office illegally leaked investigative records to the media and retaliated when she raised concerns.
SEATTLE - Two former Seattle city officials claim the Office of Inspector General mishandled its investigation of rumors that former Seattle police Chief Adrian Diaz was sleeping with his Chief of Staff, Jamie Tompkins.
One of those officials is Tompkins herself, who's now questioning the credibility of a key OIG witness: Officer Tay Gray-McVey, Diaz's driver on the security detail.
FOX 13 Seattle compared the report on the OIG's findings with interview transcripts and police emails in determining Gray-McVey's central role in the investigation.
Mayor Bruce Harrell cited Gray-McVey's statements in a letter he wrote to the Seattle City Council informing them of his decision to fire Diaz in December 2024.
"I further identify additional established facts that I rely upon: Diaz directly described to a member of his Executive Protection Unit [Gray-McVey] that he was having a romantic relationship with [Tompkins]."
What they're saying
In the OIG report, Gray-McVey told investigator Shayda Le that Diaz engaged him in salacious conversations about Tompkins, with graphic details of the sex they had together.
Le's report also showed that Gray-McVey was one of the first police officers to know about the romantic birthday card addressed to Diaz; the card that suggested he was having an affair.
The OIG report says Gray-McVey's partner on the security team found the card in one of Diaz's official vehicles and shared the contents with him, and the two officers discussed what to do with it.
The handwriting expert who declared Tompkins wrote the birthday card used one sample of penmanship in particular to confirm the match: JT-K-1, a handwritten note Gray-McVey claimed Tompkins gave him, "Thank-you for saving the day! Per usual [signed] Jamie."
Tompkins, however, said a new handwriting analysis proves a different Jamie wrote that note and the birthday card, and she's shocked that anyone would believe she'd write a thank-you note to Gray-McVey, the man who she says regularly engaged in sexually aggressive behavior toward her.
Click to open this PDF in a new window.
Tompkins documented his alleged misconduct in emails she sent to SPD, the city of Seattle and even OIG.
"He would say that he could track me by my scent. He told me that he would track my coming and going and where I was in the building over surveillance cameras. He told colleagues he was going to try to get me drunk on a work trip so that he could see if he could sleep with me," Tompkins said in an exclusive interview with FOX 13 Seattle. "It was just really disgusting behavior."
Her allegations against Gray-McVey were also detailed in the letter Tompkins's lawyer sent to the city of Seattle in November 2024, demanding that the government pay her $3 million for the pervasive sexual harassment she suffered in the 18 months she worked at the Seattle Police Department.
Click to open this PDF in a new window.
Given Gray-McVey's importance to the investigation, Tompkins questioned why the OIG investigator didn't note his troubling connection with Tompkins when Le summed up her findings.
"[Gray-McVey] has a massive conflict of interest," Tompkins said.
FOX 13 Seattle offered Gray-McVey multiple opportunities to reply to Tompkins's allegations, but he did not respond to emails and phone calls. Fox 13 Seattle also attempted to contact Investigator Shadya Le, asking her to respond to Tompkins's concerns, but received no response.
On Wednesday, FOX 13 Seattle reached out to SPD for comment, but at the time of publication had not heard back.
Earlier this week, SPD issued a statement to KING-TV about Tompkins's demand letter. It read:
"While the Seattle Police Department does not comment on ongoing or threatened litigation, we would like to restate that we are an inclusive organization and strive to be a safe and welcoming workplace for all our staff."
Mayor Harrell was also asked about Tompkins's lawsuit on Monday and said he couldn't comment on pending litigation.
Dig deeper
Tompkins said Diaz, who is currently negotiating his $10 million wrongful termination lawsuit with the city of Seattle, wants a new criminal investigation into his firing as part of any settlement, something she supports.
"I think the investigators had a preconceived narrative for this all along." Tompkins said. "I mean, it certainly felt coordinated."
On Oct. 28, 2024, Interim Seattle Police Chief Sue Rahr unexpectedly announced she had placed Tompkins and Diaz on administrative leave but did not provide a reason. She said it was a "pending personnel matter" in an email sent to SPD staff.
Two days later, the Seattle Times and KUOW reported that Diaz and Tompkins were suspended for allegedly lying to investigators about their affair, detailed in a new OIG Notice of Investigation; the stories came out approximately 30 minutes apart, and neither reporter revealed their sources.
Click to open this PDF in a new window.
More Details Emerge
Now, a whistleblower lawsuit claims a senior member of the OIG leaked that information to local media.
The claim was filed by Lacey Gray, the OIG's former records manager, who spoke to FOX 13 Seattle about the allegations made in her complaint. She said the release of the Notice of Investigation went around the normal review process.
"This is completely against the norm to release these records the way we did … I think it was done to paint Adrian Diaz in a negative light."
In her lawsuit, Gray claims Inspector General Lisa Judge fired her a few days after she voiced concerns to senior OIG staff that releasing the information had violated employee confidentiality laws.
"In an employee misconduct investigation, you have to provide the employee notice," Gray explained in her interview. "You have to give them the opportunity to request an injunction to say, 'Hey, that should not be released.'"
Gray told FOX 13 Seattle that she believes she's been "blackballed" from working at other local government agencies, so now she must look for work in a different state. Gray said she had a spotless record at OIG and had been praised for her work, before being fired. In her last performance evaluation, on a scale of 1 to 5, she received all 5s. Gray was even promoted to records manager, and her employment agreement with OIG was extended, with a note from Judge that said, "Thank you for your continued contributions."
Gray said in her role, she handled every public record request that came into the office, but not the ones from the reporters asking for the Notice of Investigation accusing Diaz and Tompkins of lying.
According to her lawsuit, Deputy Inspector General Alyssa Perez-Morrison "released [the investigation] records to multiple media members without going through the proper public disclosure process."
Gray said she first found out what happened in a casual-seeming email exchange with Morrison.
"Alyssa emailed back, 'Oh, I already took care of it. I already gave those records to them.' And then I replied back, 'Well, I'm concerned about that.'"
Her lawsuit claims Gray tried to warn senior OIG staff in emails and in conversations that releasing those documents was a violation of disclosure laws. Gray recalled the response from OIG Audit Supervisor Dan Pitts.
"Dan said, 'Well, Lisa [Judge] has clearly reviewed the risk and didn't think it was high.' And I replied back, 'Well, I don't know that she has reviewed the risk because if she did, she would know it was very high.'"
Gray said she kept a paper trail of what was happening because she was worried about her job.
"I actually thought that Lisa was going to blame me for releasing the records, so I really just wanted it documented that I had no part in this decision," Gray said. "But it ended up being that I stepped into something bigger by making an issue about these records being released the way they were."
Click to open this PDF in a new window.
Inspector General Judge fired Gray on Nov. 6.
"Lisa showed up, and then she just got right into it," Gray said. "She said that I had been mentored and trained and guided for the last 6 to 9 months, but it was quite obvious that I had a different philosophy than leadership. And that I was being terminated."
Her lawsuit claims Gray's "concerns about the potential violations of law were (together or individually) a substantial factor in the decision to end her employment."
What's next
Gray is suing for an unspecified amount in personal and professional damages for wrongful termination. Her lawsuit also claims OIG violated Washington's Silenced No More Act, which protects an employee when there's "reasonable belief" that public policy was being protected by her actions.
Her tort claim originally sought $5 million dollars for her losses and legal fees.
Gray filed her lawsuit Wednesday in King County Superior Court, and a response will be due from the city soon. The case is scheduled to go to trial May 11, 2026.
FOX 13 Seattle repeatedly contacted OIG and emailed Lisa Judge directly seeking a response to Gray's allegations. However, no messages were returned.
Gray wants the city to audit OIG, including how it handled the allegations against Diaz and Tompkins.
"I know the employees at OIG, and they're good, and they care, and they're hard-working, and they're scared. They're scared they're going to lose their job like I did," Gray said. "I think an investigation could get them talking. I would support it. I would be happy to participate in it. 'I mean, I definitely would know where records are to assist any investigation.'"
The Source
Information in this story came from an interview with former Seattle Police Department Chief of Staff Jamie Tompkins, reports from the Seattle Office of the Inspector General, lawsuits filed with the city of Seattle and Superior Court of Washington and FOX 13 Seattle original reporting.
New area code coming to Seattle area in June. What to know
WA's first In-N-Out gets closer to opening date
Trump, Carney quibble over buying Canada: 'Never say never'
Dozens arrested after protests escalate at University of Washington in Seattle
Jury selection for Bryan Kohberger trial: What both sides will likely look out for
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Former Heat security officer pleads guilty to theft of jerseys
A former Miami Heat security officer accused of stealing hundreds of game-worn jerseys pleaded guilty to transporting and transferring stolen goods across state lines in the Southern District of Florida on Tuesday. Marcos Tomas Perez, 62, had previously worked as a police officer for the city of Miami for 25 years before his employment with the Heat from 2016 to 2021 and then as an NBA security employee from 2022 to 2025. According to allegations described by the U.S. Attorney's Office in a statement, Perez stole more than 400 jerseys and other items from a secured equipment room and sold them to online brokers, including more than 100 stolen items over a period of three-plus years for which he garnered $1.9 million, often selling items below market value. Perez allegedly had access to the equipment room because he worked game-day security at the Kaseya Center. The equipment room had memorabilia set aside for a future Heat museum. RELATED STORIES: Ex-Miami Heat security officer charged in theft of more than 400 jerseys Heat probe includes game-used jerseys from LeBron, Shaq, D-Wade Sources: Stolen Miami Heat memorabilia at center of federal probe A court filing related to the plea agreement alleged Perez would tell a co-worker he had to use the bathroom (or offer another excuse) and take the key, open the equipment room and leave the door propped open before returning the key. Later, he would return to steal items from the room. According to the same document, Perez utilized a third-party liaison to broker the deals, splitting the profits. Then he used his corporate entity, South Florida Signature Authenticators Incorporated, to sell the items. Platforms identified in the document as venues for him advertising and negotiating deals include OfferUp, eBay and Instagram. The most notable example cited by the U.S. Attorney's Office was LeBron James' jersey from Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals, which he sold for $100,000. That jersey would go on to fetch $3.7 million in an auction at Sotheby's. A Heat spokesperson declined cllct's request for comment. A Sotheby's spokesperson also declined to comment. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Perez's home April 3, recovering nearly 300 additional stolen game-worn jerseys and memorabilia, which the Heat confirmed had been stolen from its facility, according to the statement. Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘I don't want to do it alone': Owner closing The Postman after husband's 2022 killing
KeAnna Rose Pickett, owner of The Postman in Seattle's Central District, announced Tuesday that she will close the business permanently on August 31. Pickett said the decision comes after years of personal and financial struggle following the murder of her husband and co-founder, D'Vonne Pickett Jr. 'I'm feeling lighter because it's been stressful,' she said in an interview with Converge Media, describing the challenges of being a single parent, running the business, and working a second job. A business built on legacy The Postman was named in honor of D'Vonne's great-grandfather, who worked as a mail carrier in the Central District for nearly four decades. The store became a neighborhood hub and was celebrated as a symbol of family legacy and community strength. But the business has faced repeated setbacks since October 19, 2022, when D'Vonne Pickett Jr., a beloved community activist and youth coach, was fatally shot outside the shop while locking up for the night. He was 31. Despite her grief, KeAnna kept the business open in his memory, even briefly expanding to a second location before later closing it. Since then, she has endured two robberies at the store, the most recent just two weeks ago. 'I feel like I'm trying to keep it up for legacy, but I really want to do something else,' she said. 'It was a highlight of our relationship that we did it together, and I don't want to do it alone.' Safety concerns and final closure The latest robbery, she said, was especially difficult. 'I haven't been open because it just sets off the PTSD and I don't feel comfortable being here. They scared off my staff. They quit.' Pickett asked customers who rent mailboxes at the store to begin making new arrangements. She suggested updating addresses to another private mailbox store or through the post office. While she acknowledged the closure is painful, she said she is hopeful about the future. 'I just want to do something different now. I hope people understand.' Remembering D'Vonne Pickett Jr. The 2022 murder of D'Vonne Pickett Jr. shook the Central District community. Friends and family described him as a mentor, role model, and community leader. His sisters called him 'our role model' and said he had inspired everyone around him. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell also mourned his death in 2022, calling Pickett 'a father, businessman, mentor, and pillar in our Central District community' who 'will not be forgotten.' Police arrested Ashton Christopher Lefall the day after the shooting, with investigators saying the man may have been connected to other violent crimes. Lefall has been in custody since Oct. 20, 2022. He is expected have a competency hearing in October.
New York Post
7 hours ago
- New York Post
Rep. Sarah McBride rips Democrats for not knowing how to combat anti-trans attacks: ‘Can't ignore these issues'
Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., criticized the Democratic Party's silence on Republican-led attacks on trans issues, arguing on Tuesday that the party needs to learn how to engage on the issue. 'I do think it was a problem that our party didn't explicitly respond to the anti-trans attacks. We can't ignore these issues. We can't just not respond and leave the narrative entirely to the Republicans,' McBride said when pressed by ex-DNC chair Jaime Harrison on his podcast. Discussing how Democrats should respond to Republicans on trans issues, the lawmaker specifically noted President Donald Trump's ad during the 2024 campaign that depicted former Vice President Kamala Harris as being for 'they/them' and the president as being 'for you.' McBride, a transgender lawmaker, said the party broadly should be focused on a 'diverse working class,' and should reject the idea of 'absolute purity politics.' 'I will say one of the reasons why, the sense that I have gotten from some Democrats as I talked to them, that you often see silence from Democrats in response to these attacks is because, to your point, they don't know how to respond, not because they don't know what they believe or how they feel, but because they feel like there is no way to respond in a way that doesn't result in everyone yelling at them,' McBride said during Harrison's podcast, 'At Our Table.' McBride said Democrats didn't need perfect terminology or to embrace the 'maximalist position' on trans issues, but suggested acknowledging concerns about transgender people participating in sports. Rep. Sarah McBride criticized the Democratic Party for staying silent on constant attacks from Republicans on trans issues. At Our Table with Jaime Harrison 'You can grapple with concerns around, for instance, trans people participating in sports, acknowledge that there are very real questions out there. But who is best able to answer those questions about how to balance respect and fairness in women's sports? It's not 435 members of Congress who know nothing about women's sports and even less about trans people. It's the individual athletic associations that understand their sports the best,' McBride said. The Democratic lawmaker said Republicans were trying to misdirect when they talk about trans people, accusing Trump of wanting to 'line the pockets' of corporations and wealthy people. 'And I think we have to be crystal clear about that while also pushing back against these attacks in ways that doesn't dismiss everyone with a question or a concern as a closed-minded bigot,' McBride said. On Jaime Harrison's podcast, McBride said, 'We can't ignore these issues,' and that the Democratic Party has to fight back against anti-trans attacks. Getty Images McBride said in June that the party might have overplayed its hand regarding trans issues. 'I think that's an accurate reflection of the overplaying of the hand in some ways — that we as a coalition went to Trans 201, Trans 301, when people were still at a very much Trans 101 stage,' McBride told The New York Times' Ezra Klein in an interview. The Delaware lawmaker said many of the cultural norms surrounding transgender people were likely premature for a lot of Americans. 'We became absolutist — not just on trans rights but across the progressive movement — and we forgot that in a democracy we have to grapple with where the public authentically is and actually engage with it. Part of this is fostered by social media,' McBride said.
