Parks director resigned before Pasco could act on sexual harassment report
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- A report found Pasco’s former parks leader created a hostile work environment.
- An investigator found credible incidents of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior.
- Jesse Rice submitted his resignation on March 3 before the council received the report.
An outside investigator found that Pasco’s former parks director created a hostile work environment and sexually harassed another city employee.
That’s according to an investigative report that was paid for by the city obtained by the Tri-City Herald.
The investigation was opened in January following a December 2025 complaint.
Jesse Rice resigned before the city could act on the report.
He submitted a letter of resignation March 3, about two weeks after the investigation was finished, but before the council received a copy of the report. His resignation was effective at the end of March, after using his accrued vacation and personal leave time.
Rice was about six months short of full retirement benefits, according to his resignation letter.
The report was released to the city on April 6.
About the investigation
Rice had been working remotely since December. It is unclear if he was placed on the status by the city or why he was not on paid administrative leave.
Pasco city officials declined to comment on the matter at the time.
City Manager Harold Stewart told the Tri-City Herald in a statement this week that the city immediately initiated its process for dealing with harassment and bullying prevention and “interim workplace measures were put in place to support the integrity of the process and the well-being of those involved.”
“The city of Pasco takes allegations of sexual harassment and hostile work environment concerns extremely seriously. Our policies require prompt and thorough action when concerns are raised, and the city followed those procedures in full,” he said.
Stewart said that the policy allows for disciplinary actions up to and including termination, but Rice had already resigned.
“The city of Pasco is committed to maintaining a workplace free from discrimination, intimidation, and harassment,” Stewart continued. “The city will continue to take reasonable steps to prevent misconduct, respond promptly to concerns, and promote accountability at every level of the organization.”
“We appreciate the individuals who participated in this process and ask that the privacy and dignity of all employees involved be respected as the city continues supporting a safe and respectful workplace.”
The investigation was conducted by Thaddeus J. O’Sullivan, a Spokane employment attorney. He previously charged the city of Sunnyside $325 per hour for an investigation into harassment claims among its city leadership. It’s unclear how much Pasco paid for its report.
Rice denied the allegations, but undermined his own credibility during the interviews, according to O’Sullivan.
O’Sullivan’s report said he interviewed seven current and former city employees, including Rice and the employee who made the complaint. The witnesses included people who liked and respected Rice, O’Sullivan wrote.
The report looked into eight separate instances of alleged inappropriate behavior ranging from unwanted physical contact to allegedly creating situations when he could run into the employee outside of work.
O’Sullivan found all eight complaints credible.
Unwanted touching
Rice engaged in a pattern of unwanted physical contact with employees, including kissing the complainant on top of their head, said the report.
In another instance he allegedly slid his hand inside the back of her shirt.
“I pulled away. He brushed it off casually and left,” she told the investigator.
Another employee told O’Sullivan that the complainant told them about the incident immediately after it happened and they “wished they had done more” to protect the employee.
Rice adamantly denied these incidents happened and claimed he was “old school” and had a strict rule about only touching people between the elbow and shoulder, according to the report.
Rice was also accused of being unusually affectionate toward the employee, regularly putting his hand on her shoulders and hugging her.
Other employees confirmed they’d seen Rice hugging people. Rice also claimed the employee asked for the hug, but other employees contradicted that.
The unwanted touching happened regularly, on an almost weekly basis, according to the report.
She began hiding anytime she saw Rice to avoid unwanted contact. Her co-workers also began warning her any time Rice was nearby and let her know when the “coast was clear.”
At one point she even turned off the lights and hid under her desk.
At the end of the day on a Friday in early December Rice showed up in the doorway of her office. She pushed past Rice and went to a co-worker’s office to ask about a project. The co-worker was confused, but soon realized she was trying to get away from Rice.
He stood silently in the doorway looking at the woman and then finally said he would talk to her next week and left.
The co-worker described it as uncomfortable and said it “felt like being hunted by a cougar.”
The co-worker told the employee that if she didn’t report Rice’s behavior, they would. The co-worker’s supervisor confirmed it was reported that evening.
The complaint that led to the investigation was received on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025.
Rice was also accused of seeking a “less professional” relationship with the employee. He allegedly repeatedly invited her to non-work events, which she believed was him suggesting they could engage in a more intimate relationship. That included a conversation about a change in their relationship due to changes in their supervising structures.
He also gave her unwanted gifts and special perks, such as more options for city-branded clothing.
He nominated the woman for “specific employee recognition that had never been given to an employee prior nor since.”
The employee tried to refuse the recognition but wasn’t allowed to. That led to at least one co-worker complaining about “special treatment,” which the employee being harassed said she did not want or ask for.
Multiple employees acknowledged the appearance of Rice trying to give her special treatment.
Rice acknowledged nominating her for the recognition to promote her professional career.
At one point Rice also described being attracted to his therapist, and remarking they shared similar physical attributes, telling the employee he had a “type.”
Rice told O’Sullivan he recalled describing his therapist to demonstrate they were not a “stereotypical therapist” but did not recall suggesting he had a “type.” Another witness confirmed Rice did have a “type” that was similar to the employee.
He also offered to take the employee with him to his therapy appointment.
The employee also described a pattern of behavior that O’Sullivan said illustrated “Mr. Rice’s attempts to develop an inappropriate, unwanted, personal relationship” with the employee.
Those included buying a knitting machine after learning the employee was into knitting, random run-ins at a craft store and then a grocery store far from Rice’s home and continued invites to non-work activities.
Rice claimed he bought the machine to do crafts with his grandchild, but O’Sullivan said he told another employee he intended to ask the woman how to use the machine.
Parks and rec department
Prior to becoming parks and recreation director, Rice worked for the city’s technology department, including as IT director. In April 2023, he was appointed interim administrative and community services director.
In 2024, he started working as director for the parks and recreation department.
Documents obtained by the Herald show that Rice earned a salary between $137,000 and nearly $202,000. The city has not yet posted a job listing for his replacement, according to their GovernmentJobs.com listings.
Assistant City Manager Angela Pashon has been serving as interim parks and recreation director since Rice’s resignation.
The parks and recreation department oversees Memorial Pool, the Pasco Aquatic Center coming soon, city parks and facilities, community centers, Tri-Cities Animal Services and City View Cemetery.
Department staff organize a series of public events including the Pasco Farmers Market, Cinco de Mayo, Grand Old Fourth of July, the Fiery Foods Festival and Winterfest. The department also oversees the operation of the Pasco Specialty Kitchen.
This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Parks director resigned before Pasco could act on sexual harassment report."
