‘I did nothing wrong,’ Lakewood police leader says of big payout to retire early
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Lakewood approved $420,998 payout for Assistant Chief John Unfred to retire early
- City rescinded internal investigation and issued no discipline for Unfred
- The agreement was criticized for secrecy and perceived undermining of Police Chief Smith.
Lakewood Assistant Police Chief John Unfred said, “I did nothing wrong,” after the City Council on Monday approved a pricey agreement that rescinds an investigation launched against him earlier this year in exchange for his early retirement and promise not to sue.
“After four-and-a-half months of admin leave with no investigation done to clear my name, I am glad we were able to reach a resolution agreeable to both parties,” Unfred told The News Tribune outside the council chambers.
Unfred, who wasn’t wearing a police uniform and had his attorney, James Blankenship, at his side, declined to take any questions.
His comments came after the City Council authorized Interim City Manager Tho Kraus to approve a settlement of $420,998, including severance and other standard payouts such as vacation and sick leave. Unfred, 52, is expected to receive $306,193.50 after taxes, benefit premiums and entitled leave cash outs. He must retire by March 31, 2026 or earlier as part of the deal.
In March, Police Chief Patrick Smith notified Unfred that a professional-standards investigation was being brought against him, and Unfred was placed on leave, according to public records released to The News Tribune. Since then the city has been silent on what prompted the inquiry or what exactly it was about.
Mayor Jason Whalen addressed some of the frustration over the lack of information during the City Council meeting, just before the agreement sailed through an oral vote on the consent agenda.
Explaining City Council’s public silence on the matter, Whalen said the agreement came out of pending litigation, and in cases like Unfred’s the details are often provided to council members in an executive session, a private meeting. He said council members aren’t allowed to discuss those details.
“In a matter like this there was no litigation filed so there’s no public record of the claims and issues involved in litigation, which can be frustrating to the public,” Whalen said. “Resolutions are not unusual in city government, and resolutions exist to resolve fully, fairly and faithfully — as best can be had — disputed interests and claims.”
“And council often takes these up and makes decisions that council believes as a body are in the best interests of the city. And that’s my understanding why this is before us tonight,” Whalen added.
Whalen’s statements came about an hour into an otherwise mundane City Council meeting, including a proclamation Chief Smith helped present about the city’s National Night Out against crime. Smith wore sunglasses and sat outside council chambers before and after the proclamation. He didn’t appear to have any interactions with Unfred, who left after the consent agenda was passed.
As part of Lakewood’s agreement with Unfred, the city put out a press release Tuesday announcing Unfred’s separation from the Police Department. It said after Kraus signs, Unfred will be restored to active duty as assistant chief and will be on leave for “personal reasons” until his retirement.
“As part of the agreement a Notice of Standards Investigation is rescinded. Unfred has not faced disciplinary action,” the press release read in part.
One public commenter, Julius Brown, spoke about Smith and the city’s separation agreement with Unfred. Brown is the chair of the Lakewood African American Police Advisory Committee and is a community representative on the Pierce County Force Investigation Team.
Brown first praised Smith for reducing total crime in 2024 and said it was the first time he could remember Lakewood having zero homicides this late into the year. He said he sat on the hiring board for the chief position, and, when Smith was hired, he felt the city had turned a corner.
But Brown said it seemed to him the city was continuing to undermine Smith’s authority and overturn actions that were for the benefit of the community. He said city leaders remained silent on police officers who were found making racist and sexist jokes on the job. Smith imposed discipline in those cases, but their punishments were lightened after arbitration between the Police Department and the Lakewood Police Independent Guild.
Brown then said Unfred wasn’t deserving of the payout he was receiving.
“That’s not a good look for Lakewood,” Brown said. “The citizens of Lakewood have a say in how the money is spent. Doing under the table deals with people under investigation seems unscrupulous. Please consider your actions and how they are perceived in the public forum.”
After Unfred’s separation agreement passed through the consent agenda, Brown told The News Tribune he worries that the separation agreement makes it seem as if Smith overstepped his bounds or did something wrong.
“I’ve seen public comments people saying here and there on social media, ‘Oh, yeah, this chief must have done something wrong because why would we be paying him?’” Brown said. “That’s not the narrative we want to give.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated Aug. 7 with information from the City of Lakewood clarifying that the total settlement cost for the city is $420,998 including severance, vacation and sick leave cash outs, and the actual amount Unfred will receive is $306,193.50 after taxes, benefit premiums and entitled leave cash outs.
This story was originally published August 5, 2025 at 10:19 AM.
