Former Police Chief Wins $24.2M Wrongful Termination Lawsuit Against Port of Seattle

Rodney D. Covey vs. Port of Seattle

Case Background

On December 15, 2022, Plaintiff Rodney D. Covey filed a Wrongful Termination lawsuit in the Washington Superior Court, Kings County (Case number 22-20666-7). Judge Maureen McKee presided over the case.

Cause

Rodney Covey served as the Chief of Police for the Port of Seattle Police Department for nearly five years until his termination in September 2021. With a 44-year career in law enforcement, Covey had an impeccable record until 2019. The issues began when he issued a Letter of Reprimand to Officer M for performance shortcomings. Officer M then filed complaints against Covey, leading to three separate investigations. The Port conducted a 14-month investigation while keeping Covey on administrative leave. Despite being cleared in the third investigation, the Port still issued him a Written Warning. Covey's termination occurred during a period of heightened focus on police reform and diversity initiatives, suggesting that his dismissal was motivated by his status as an older white male rather than any legitimate performance issues.

Injuries

The Port's actions severely damaged Covey's professional reputation and ended his 45-year law enforcement career. The Port's publi