Former deputy police chief sues city of Tacoma, alleging misconduct
Former Tacoma Police Department deputy chief Paul Junger filed a lawsuit against the City of Tacoma on Thursday, alleging the city unlawfully fired him after he reported misconduct within the department.
Junger was hired as TPD’s deputy chief in 2022. According to his LinkedIn, Junger worked in law enforcement in Dallas for more than 30 years, including as lieutenant of police from 2010 to 2015. He was the major of police before his departure.
According to Police Department’s website, the deputy chief’s role includes assisting in the direction of internal operations, directing assigned activities of the department and assuring the protection of lives, property and constitutional rights. The deputy chief also develops and implements department policies and goals.
Then-interim Police Chief Patti Jackson terminated Junger’s employment in March 2025 following an external investigation into allegations of inappropriate workplace behavior.
According to the investigation report obtained by The News Tribune, Junger exhibited a “pattern of disrespect” toward women and the allegations of a hostile work environment and gender discrimination were true.
One instance involved Junger downgrading an officer’s punishment for making a meme that disrespected his commanding officer and three other women, the report said. He also made belittling comments toward assistant chief Crystal Young-Haskins, who filed a Human Resources complaint against him in November 2024, according to previous reporting.
Junger’s lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington tells a different story.
In a news release sent by Taren Law Group PLLC, Junger denies the discrimination allegations and alleges he was fired after bringing attention to misuse of public funds and conduct violations within TPD.
Maria Lee, spokesperson for the City of Tacoma, told The News Tribune that the city does not generally comment on matters involving litigation.
According to the suit, Junger became aware of misconduct by the “unqualified hire” of then-Chief of Police Avery Moore’s close friend, Curtis Hairston. Junger sent a written complaint directly to Moore and documented his concern with the hire in January 2023, the suit alleges.
He also complained about Moore’s misconduct to the City Attorney’s Office in May 2024, the suit says.
Junger witnessed misuse of government funds, approval of expenditures and irregularities in timekeeping within the department, including a $2 million shortfall in the TPD budget caused partly by excessive overtime assignments, the suit alleges.
After reporting the misconduct, Junger was removed from significant job responsibilities, excluded from leadership meetings, isolated from command staff and placed on administrative leave against policy, the suit alleges.
The complaint also alleges the city violated Junger’s rights to due process after publicly disseminating the discrimination allegations before he had an opportunity to clear his name.
The suit identifies multiple lapses in basic procedural protections during the discrimination investigation, including not providing a pre-disciplinary hearing before his termination and not interviewing numerous people with direct knowledge of Junger’s conduct.
Moore and the City Manager’s Office directed the investigation to produce a finding against Junger in retaliation for his complaints, the suit alleges.
Junger worked in law enforcement for over 35 years and alleges he had no disciplinary history prior to these events. According to the lawsuit, he’s requesting a jury trial and general damages to compensate him for wage loss and the emotional injuries he sustained.
This story was originally published July 2, 2026 at 3:29 PM.
