Attorney Files Formal Claim Against YPD Chief

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Story Published: Feb 16, 2009 at 6:41 PM PDT

By Steve Wellman

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Attorney William Pickett filed the sexual harassment claim before the city's official investigation was completed. Officer Stacey Andrews is seeking a three million dollar settlement, accusing Chief Granato of sexual harassment and retaliation.

Details of the allegations aren't yet available. Over the weekend published reports had several city council members commenting on the Chief's troubles. Councilman Neil McClure likened the situation to a "leaky faucet" McClure also was quoted as saying Granato had “a target on his back"

Councilman Rick Ensey also told a reporter that he's concerned about how many more complaints might come up, and made a connection that Granato could have made the police union mad.

Through all this, Chief Granato hasn't commented directly. By law he's not allowed to, because the city is in the middle of an ongoing investigation.

But Robert Christie, Granato's Seattle attorney, says all the hearsay isn't fair to Chief Granato.
"It's so inappropriate and unfair for anyone to conclude anything from the act or claim of filing a lawsuit,” says Christie.

Christie also points out that it's cheap and easy to file a claim, but he says real damage can be done to public servants even if they're innocent...just because of bad publicity. "It takes a piece of paper and no filing fee to file a claim against a public official. It takes a piece of paper and 200 dollars to file a lawsuit against someone."

Christie wouldn't say if he thinks the police union or others have an agenda against Granato. He also said reports that Granato might countersue Stacey Andrews weren't meant as a threat, but merely to show that that Granato is looking at all his legal options.

Previously, city manager Dick Zais has commented that public perception can cloud the real truth as to whether a public official has committed an offense: "You guys in the media get a double dose of this when there's a claim and that might be dismissed and then later it turns up as a lawsuit," Zais says.

For now no word as to when the investigation into various complaints against Granato will be completed.

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