Wash. Court of Appeals published opinion — 309941.cor.pdf

Citation: Wash. Court of Appeals published opinion — 309941.cor.pdf
Jurisdiction: Washington (state)
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Original Source: https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/309941.cor.pdf ↗

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No. 30994-1-111
Brownfield v. City o/Yakima

Brownfield also relayed to supervisors several citizen complaints regarding Officer

Dejoumette's lazy and unreliable work with YPAL.

On May 4, Jeff Brownfield sent an e-mail message to Yakima Police Chief Sam

Granato. In this e-mail, Brownfield complained about Lieutenant Merryman retaliating

against him for complaining about Officer Dejoumette. Brownfield believed that

Merryman exaggerated the significance of a scheduling error by YP AL at a city Cinco de

Mayo activity. Two days later, Mike Merryman verbally reprimanded Officers

Brownfield and Dejoumette for the error. Merryman confirmed the reprimand with a

memo to Sergeant Amos.

Jeff Brownfield, because of illness, did not work on May 9, which left Joe

Dejoumette in charge of the YPAL center. Officer Dejoumette closed the center early,

despite scheduled activities and without consulting Brownfield. On May 10, Brownfield

spoke to police Sergeants Bob Hester and Mike Amos regarding Officer Dejoumette's

early closing of the center. Brownfield also complained to the sergeants that Lieutenant

Merryman was conducting a surreptitious investigation of him and wrongfully talking

about his (Brownfield's) health to other officers. Brownfield asked Sergeant Hester to

transfer him to patrol duties so that he could avoid supervision by Merryman.

Also on May 10, Jeff Brownfield sent an e-mail message to police members of the

YPAL board regarding Officer Joe Dejoumette's premature closing of the YPAL center

and his refusal to conduct other community service activities. The board members were

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No. 30994-1-111
Brownfield v. City ofYakima