Pay system, lingering resentments cited in report that returned Whatcom undersheriff to duty
Allegations against Undersheriff Steve Harris revolved around personal interactions with subordinates, lingering resentment over the election of Sheriff Donnell Tanksley in November 2023, and a payroll procedure used under former Sheriff Bill Elfo that Tanksley ended when he took office this year.
That “portal-to-portal” pay system allowed detectives to be paid for their commute to work and is called a “gift of public funds” by Whatcom County officials in the text of a report on the investigation into allegations against Harris.
Further allegations claimed that Harris was creating a hostile work environment, engaged in retaliation, discrimination, code of conduct violations, unprofessionalism, and other concerns.
Harris was placed on paid administrative leave Aug. 30 and returned to duty Nov. 1, Tanksley said in public announcements.
Tanksley released the contents of the report in a statement Monday afternoon.
“In addition to our Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office values of integrity, excellence and teamwork —transparency is also paramount for our agency. To that end, I have decided to publicly release the report. I am taking measures to address the concerns expressed. We are committed to fostering respect and open communication at the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office,” Tanksley said.
A total of 15 witnesses were interviewed by Jeffery Wells of Williams, Kastner & Gibbs, the Seattle law firm that was hired to conduct an independent investigation.
Several of the allegations made against Harris revolved around the “portal-to-portal” pay system, according to 28-page report that Wells submitted.
“As part of his research on the issue, Sheriff Tanksley contacted other agencies, like Snohomish County, to inquire about the practice, and he was told portal-to-portal was not a practice within those agencies. Sheriff Tanksley also spoke with Whatcom County Human Resources who said the practice should not be happening. Undersheriff Harris also separately spoke with Whatcom County Human Resources, who told him the practice equates to improper ‘gift of public funds,’” the report said.
There is significant “distrust” among the Sheriff’s Office rank and file because Harris was promoted several steps up the chain of command, from deputy to undersheriff, after Tanksley’s election. The report also said that Harris was “credible” in his answers.
“In summary, while I do not find Undersheriff Harris engaged in unlawful retaliation, discrimination, or unethical conduct, there are instances where his conduct has been unprofessional, which Undersheriff Harris acknowledges. He also acknowledges that his communication style can often be curt and abrupt, including the use of expletives, which contributes to the negative feelings experienced by Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office employees,” the report said.
“There is a significant distrust between Undersheriff Harris and certain WCSO office employees that report to him, which is tied to events that occurred before Undersheriff Harris was promoted. The distrust has created a situation where benign conduct and or changes in practices are viewed suspiciously. It also led to misconceptions that Undersheriff Harris is behind certain decisions that have impacted Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office employees when he is not. However, the distrust runs in both directions: Undersheriff Harris questions the motivations of certain Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office employees because of past events, like the election,” the report said.
This story was originally published November 6, 2024 at 11:18 AM.
