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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Joe Dejournette, Lieutenant Mike Merryman, Sergeant Mike Amos, Officers Ben Hittle

and Rey Garza, and Chief Sam Granato.

At 5: 10 p.m., on May 10, Lieutenant Merryman sent Officer Brownfield an e-mail

message, directing Brownfield to appear at a meeting at 9:00 the next morning.

Brownfield missed the meeting because he did not check his e-mail until May 13. Jeff

Brownfield arrived at work at 10 a.m., on May 11. Thereafter his immediate supervisor,

Sergeant Mike Amos, directed him to the Police Chief s conference room in order "to fix

this s ... t right now." CP at 107. Brownfield expected Chief Sam Granato to be present

at the conference room. In his brief, Brownfield writes that Sergeant Amos promised to

arrange a meeting with the Chief, but the record does not support this statement.

Lieutenant Mike Merryman was present instead.

During the May 11 morning conference, Lieutenant Merryman and Sergeant

Amos wished to discuss Officer Brownfield's e-mails, Officer Dejournette's YPAL

center closure, and the scheduling incident. According to Brownfield, Amos and

Merryman made excuses for Dejournette. Brownfield explained that Officer

Dejournette's poor performance had a long history. Brownfield grew concerned about

the nature and progress of the meeting and believed that Merryman might be continuing

an investigation against him as a result of his whistleblowing. Brownfield asked for a

recess of the meeting to obtain union representation and prepared to leave the conference

room. Merryman ordered Jeff Brownfield to sit back down, but Brownfield refused.

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No. 30994-1-II1
Brownfield v. City o/Yakima