Lake Stevens settles police sergeant’s harassment lawsuit for $325K

LAKE STEVENS — The city of Lake Stevens is paying a former police sergeant $325,000 to settle her lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and retaliation.

The final payment is due in January, public records show.

In the settlement, Julie Jamison, 46, agreed to resign and waived her right to future legal claims against the city and former police chief Randy Celori.

Both the city and Jamison have denied any wrongdoing.

Jamison wanted “to move on with her career goals and the defendants merely wish to buy their peace,” according to the settlement agreement.

Jamison worked as a police officer for 23 years

It was a privilege to serve, and she always tried to bring empathy to the work, she said in an interview. She is deciding what’s next for her.

“My focus has always been to bring justice to those who have been harmed regardless of who is involved or their standing in the community,” she said.

Jamison said she’d never been the subject of an internal investigation or been disciplined. She has donated some of the settlement money to nonprofits in Snohomish County that serve children, including the Dawson Place Child Advocacy Center, which provides resources for child victims of abuse, she said.

Jamison also agreed to withdraw a public-records request filed by her attorney, who was paid $100,000 of the settlement.

The lawsuit was filed in November 2013 in Snohomish County Superior Court. Jamison alleged that Celori, who left the police department in 2012, had mishandled her sexual harassment claims involving a subordinate officer.

Jamison was told to work from home during the initial phases of an internal investigation instead of the man she accused. She also was given extra work, a negative performance review and reassigned to a less desirable job. When a new police chief was promoted, and Jamison told him she’d been retaliated against, she was moved to the night shift.

Jamison worked for the city for about eight years. She previously had worked in San Juan County and in Mountlake Terrace, where she was the lead detective in the 2000 murder of mail-order bride Anastasia King.

In Lake Stevens, she became the detective sergeant and led the investigations unit until that position was cut from the 2013 budget.

In July of this year, Mayor Vern Little signed a reference letter for Jamison.

“Sergeant Jamison has communicated that her passion for law enforcement lies in conducting police investigations, and she chose to resign to pursue other opportunities,” the mayor wrote. “We wish the best for Sergeant Jamison in her future endeavors.”

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.