Ex-BF city employee files lawsuit

BONNERS FERRY — A Bonners Ferry Police department employee has filed a lawsuit against the city alleging a hostile work environment and a pattern of harassment by former and current employees.

Wilson Law Offices filed the 53-page lawsuit on behalf of Tiffany Murray and her husband, Kevin, in District Court in Coeur d’Alene on March 17.

Murray was employed by the city as a school resource officer and patrol officer until her dismissal in 2014.

Named in the lawsuit are City Administrator Stephen Boorman and Police Chief Robert Boone, both current employees. The former employees cited include Steven Benkula, who was the police chief; Joel Minor, assistant police chief; and John Lunde, who was a police sergeant.

Murray details environment of harassment while she worked with Lunde from 2010 through 2012. She contends the issue was not dealt with by then police chief Rick Alonzo or Benkula, his replacement.

The lawsuit says Murray was subject to sexual harassment by Minor who protected her from Lunde’s harassment, but expected sexual favors in return. It alleges Minor made sexual advances by asking her to have sex with him, attempting to show her pornography and other harassing behavior.

The lawsuit describes actions by Stephen Boorman that are also the subject of a recent tort claim filed by the same law office on behalf of former city employee Daniel Rice, namely racist and sexist items displayed in the city shop, which Boorman oversees, and others that disparaged religion.

The lawsuit also alleges false reputation-damaging claims made by Boorman against Murray in 2013.

City employees also retaliated against Murray after her attorneys filed a tort claim against the city on Aug. 6, 2013, she contends in the suit.

Murray’s personal information was released by the city to the media, which her law firm says was a violation of city policy and state law.

An internal affairs investigation report was also released to the media, the lawsuit alleges, which caused emotional distress and damaged her reputation in the community.

The lawsuit also deals with negative employment issues Murray struggled with when Dave Kramer served as temporary police chief and his replacement, Robert Boone.

During Kramer’s tenure, Murray requested light duty after undergoing an operation to remove a tumor but was subject to new policies and regulations that had not been previously applied to other city police employees, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit says Murray also was subject to adverse administrative policies which were reportedly a result of her ongoing struggle with city policies while Boone was chief.

The lawsuit also alleges defamation against Murray by Boone regarding her performance as the school resource officer.

Answers from the defendants were due last week.

No comment on the ongoing case was available from Chief Boone or representatives of Wilson Law Offices, who said only that the case was expected to play out over the next year or more.

For the full text of the lawsuit, reference case number 2:15-cv-00081-BLW

—Marlisa Keyes contributed to this report.