As Port of Tacoma employees, we must recognize we are stewards of the work from the commissioners and employees who came before us.

Since its beginning in 1918, the port has developed economic and environmental assets and relationships with customers and our community. We take seriously our reputation within Pierce County and the global shipping industry.

I am embarrassed that we failed to uphold the responsibility that comes with such privilege to serve the citizens of Pierce County as members of the Port of Tacoma team.

Last year, port employees developed a series of values statements as part of an update of the port’s vision, mission, goals and values. Through a series of employee workshops, integrity stood out as the value most essential to our work at the Port of Tacoma.

Under the banner of integrity, port employees developed the following statements:

 • We keep our promises.

 • We follow through.

 • We stay committed to the end.

 • We do the right thing.

 • We have the courage to take risks.

 • We adjust and learn.

 • We look for ways to do it better.

When three port employees disparaged our partners at the Port of Olympia, disrespected community members in Thurston County, insulted Port of Tacoma employees and called out their unwillingness to “afford luxuries like the right way to do things,” we failed to live up to our own values.

These failures came to my attention as we gathered documents in response to a public records request. They are included in the text of several e-mail messages written by the three employees over the last 18 months.

My response was immediately to inform those who had been wronged and to apologize to them on behalf of the port. We also brought the issue to the attention of The News Tribune to ensure our community that we are aware of our mistakes and to be clear about our commitment to address them.

The three employees have been disciplined and removed from our joint project with the Port of Olympia.

This issue arises at a time when the Port of Tacoma is taking serious steps to ensure that we conduct the public’s business accountably and transparently. In the words of our employees, “we do the right thing,” “adjust and learn” and “look for ways to do it better.”

In recent months, we changed our commission agendas and meeting times to solicit more input from members of the public. The port is now broadcasting its commission meetings on the Internet, with television broadcasts beginning next month.

We also hired a records manager to confirm that port records are properly organized, stored and available by public request. The records manager will ensure that port staff are trained in the management of public information and fully understand that we serve the public.

This issue provides an opportunity to remind all of our port employees about our values and to reinforce our commitment to approach our work with openness, honesty and respect.

On behalf of the Port of Tacoma commission and staff, both past and present, I am embarrassed. I ask the members of the public that we serve day in and day out for your forgiveness and support as we learn and grow.

Timothy J. Farrell is the executive director of the Port of Tacoma.