Crime & Safety
Second Officer Files Harassment Claim Against Redmond Police
Officer Scott Bruton seeks $1 million in damages, claiming he was subjected to three years of sexual harassment from a former lieutenant.
A second Redmond Police officer has filed a complaint alleging internal misconduct within the department and seeking monetary damages.
Officer Scott Bruton has filed a claim in King County Superior Court asking for $1 million in damages for repeated sexual harassment he allegedly received from former Lt. Glenn Rotton beginning in 2009. Redmond Patch has obtained a copy of the claim from Bruton's attorney, Robert Kim.
Kim is also representing Officer Marcella Fogg, who recently filed a $3 million claim against the department and alleged she has suffered ongoing harassment and retaliation from her peers and superiors since she went undercover at Redmond High School to help orchestrate a 2010 drug bust.
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The latest claim alleges multiple instances of sexual harassment, beginning with a 2009 incident that began when Bruton and Rotton ran into each other while attending Oktoberfest in Leavenworth.
According to the claim, Bruton was in Leavenworth with his fiance (now wife) and Rotton was with three other Redmond Police officers. At one point, Bruton went to get a drink by himself and Rotton accompanied him. During their conversation, Bruton expressed nervousness about his upcoming wedding and Rotton allegedly asked him if he had "ever thought about being with a guy."
Bruton responded, “No. I am attracted only to women,” but Rotton persisted and asked the officer if he had "ever considered having a threesome" and stated that he is gay, the documents state.
Bruton reported feeling "extremely uncomfortable and horribly harassed," but was afraid to tell anyone about the conversation because of Rotton's status as a lieutenant. When the two returned to the bigger group, Rotton allegedly asked to see Bruton's "abs" several times and proceeded to reach under his shirt and rub his stomach "in a highly suggestive way" while the group was dancing, according to the claim. When he pushed the lieutenant's hand away, Rotton allegedly "grazed" the officer's crotch with his hand.
The harassment continued, according to the claim, when Bruton and Rotton returned to Redmond and intensified when Rotton became the officer's direct supervisor in 2012. In one instance, Bruton encountered Rotton at the RPD gym and the lieutenant asked him about his height and weight. The claim continues:
Without letting Plaintiff answer his question, Rotton then told Plaintiff that he was 'six feet one and eight inches.' Plaintiff was stunned. Plaintiff asked in disbelief, 'What?' Rotton again repeated, 'Six feet one and eight inches.' Rotton made it clear that he was referring to his height and the length of his erect penis.
Bruton reported the alleged harassment and met with Assistant Chief Kristi Wilson (then a commander) in April 2012, according to the claim. During their meeting, Wilson reportedly "asked very few follow-up questions" and did not seem overly concerned about the allegations, according to the documents.
Rotton was put on administrative leave after Bruton's meeting with Wilson. An internal investigation was conducted, and Rotton was demoted. He resigned in August 2012, according to the claim. It's not immediately clear where he went after his resignation.
While Rotton was on leave, Bruton claims to have learned about an alleged incident of sexual battery conducted by Rotton. He reported what he heard to his superiors but was surprised when a criminal investigation was not conducted concerning the allegation.
As part of her claim, Fogg also detailed what allegedly happened between Bruton and Rotton so as to demonstrate she received unfairly harsh punishments for relatively minor offenses. Fogg also contrasted Rotton's treatment with how her case was handled in an "agency assist" investigation that was conducted by the Bellevue Police Department regarding her relationship with a teenager. (Click here to see earlier story on Redmond Patch.)
Bruton's claim was originally reported by the Redmond Reporter earlier on Thursday. City spokeswoman Jeri Rowe-Curtis told the newspaper the city is not commenting on the matter, and she did not immediately return an email from Patch seeking comment.
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