Trigger warning: there are references to sexual assault committed by a member of law enforcement in this episode.
In the latest episode of our Community Issues bilingual radio program/podcast Rafael Aguilar and I talk to former deputy Jennifer Tyler about her first lawsuit against the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, the “wall of silence” in law enforcement, why she was retaliated against for testifying against her former boss who was found guilty of raping female inmates in his custody, and her upcoming federal trial against Sheriff Brian Burnett’s administration set to take place early next year.
Tyler also speaks to Sheriff Burnett’s role in her first suit against the county, which she won in a trial in front of a Douglas County jury. On the campaign trail, the sheriff has been putting the onus of that suit on former Chelan County Sheriff Mike Harum. But Tyler contends Burnett is largely responsible for delaying for nearly 30 months before being forced to rehire her, as well as creating a toxic work culture that essentially ensured hers and other deputies’ successful litigation against Burnett’s administration and the county.
I’ll publish a comprehensive piece chronicling the Tyler/Burnett saga in the coming weeks, but this is a good intro to Tyler’s backstory and why she decided to sue the Burnett administration and Chelan County.
Talking to Former Chelan County Sheriff's Deputy Jennifer Tyler on La Pera Radio