Marcella Fogg, an officer with the Redmond Police Department (RPD), is filing a $3 million claim against the City of Redmond for ongoing harassment and retaliation since going undercover as a senior at Redmond High School (RHS) in 2010.
According to previous reports, the seven-month-long undercover operation was part of a drug bust that resulted in the arrest of 11 students, who were involved in a variety of drugs including black tar heroine, ecstasy, cocaine and oxycontin.
Kathryn Reith, communications director for the Lake Washington School District, said the only person to know of the undercover investigation beforehand was RHS principal Jane Todd.
“I’d learned about it the night before they were going to go in and make the arrests,” Reith said, adding that the information was vague, only telling her that something big would be happening at the school.
KING 5 news reported that since Fogg completed the assignment — as a rookie — she received a chilly reception from fellow officers.
Court documents state that she couldn’t always count on them to back her up when she needed. This included an incident in June 2011 in which Fogg responded to a domestic violence call while her partner returned to the squad car rather than stay outside in case she needed backup.
Fogg was also investigated for a hit-and-run accident by the Washington State Patrol after she brushed her side mirror against another car on Dec. 1, 2011 while she was pursuing a bank robbery suspect in Overlake, according to court documents.
RPD also hired the Bellevue Police Department (BPD) in August 2012 to investigate Fogg after she began mentoring a troubled 16-year-old RHS student. Court documents state that the teen’s parents sent the RPD a letter praising Fogg and expressing their gratitude for counseling their son. This prompted speculation on Fogg’s relationship with the teen — including rumors that he was the father of her child, not Fogg’s husband — and RPD’s hiring Bellevue police to investigate.
“It’s just horrendous,” said Fogg’s attorney Bob Kim about the accusations.
One month later, BPD closed the investigation, stating the rumors were “unfounded” and that, “there was absolutely no evidence or even an original complaint that indicated the allegation was legitimate.”
Kim, who is based in Covington, said although the investigation was closed with BPD stating the rumors were unfounded, it has still been documented and is on record. As a result, Kim said it will be pretty much impossible for Fogg to find a job outside of Redmond.
“They have hosed her career,” he said.
This, in addition to the psychological damage and the physical toll on Fogg, is why she is seeking the $3 million, Kim said.
When asked for a comment, City of Redmond chief policy adviser and communications and marketing administrator for the city Jeri Rowe-Curtis said they are not able to provide an interview or commentary at this time.
“While the city would like to shed light on pending claims for damages and personnel matters, out of respect for the litigation and personnel processes and the persons involved, our general practice is not to comment while these processes are ongoing,” Rowe-Curtis said in an email to the Reporter. “As a result, at this point the city believes it is premature to discuss claims for damages or complaints and respectfully declines to do so. The city regrets any inconvenience this may cause in reporting on all the facts pertaining to the story at this time.”
