By Chris B. Bennett, The Seattle Medium
Detective Denise “Cookie” Bouldin, a pioneering and dedicated member of the Seattle Police Department (SPD) since the late 1970s, has filed a claim for damages against her employer, accusing them of racial and gender discrimination, as well as retaliation for whistleblowing. As one of the first African American women to join the department, Bouldin claims that she has faced continuous discrimination throughout her career, which has taken a significant toll on her emotional and physical well-being. Despite this, Bouldin says that her commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others has kept her on the force for four decades.
With her claim, which was recently filed with the City of Seattle, Bouldin seeks to shed light on the underlying issues of racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination that allegedly exist within SPD. She also claims that the “hostile work environment” she has been subjected to has reportedly escalated in recent years, with numerous instances of discriminatory behavior detailed in the claim.
Among the many allegations outlined in the claim, Bouldin claims that she has faced:
• Degrading and humiliating treatment with racist overtones, such as being forced to ask permission to move a dog gate to access necessary work materials
• Instances where officers have refused to come to Bouldin’s aid as backup when necessary
• Uncomfortable and unwelcome workplace environment, including witnessing racial mockery of fellow African American officers
• Racist and hostile acts, such as leaving dog feces and dog food in front of her locker after complaining about personal dogs roaming the South Precinct
• Differential treatment in comparison to similarly situated personnel, including being denied access cards, overlooked for overtime opportunities, and unjustifiably lower performance reviews
• Witnessing racist acts, including a wanted bulletin with an African American officer’s name replaced with a suspect’s name
• Facing internal complaints about her relationship with the Black community, despite the department highlighting her strong community ties during controversies
• A long history of witnessing and experiencing discrimination against people of color, specifically African Americans, by the Seattle Police Department
According to the claim, Detective Bouldin alleges that she experienced retaliation due to whistleblowing. After making a complaint, “she was told that she would be transferred to a different department. Her personal items were mishandled. Rather than allowing her to pack her own items, they were put in boxes and shoved in a corner. She received continued messages about how and where to store her belongings, and a sergeant and lieutenant suggested she use a suspect holding cell.”
In addition, the claim alleges that a poster was placed on a locker inside the South Precinct that read, “Some people require inspirational quotes to start their day, Me: Caffeine and Hate.” The poster is of a significantly armed man with a cup of coffee.
Despite enduring these alleged challenges, Bouldin remains proud of her work and dedicated to public service. By filing this claim, she “hopes that the department will authentically address issues related to the racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination she has faced during her career.”
Attorney James Bible, who is representing Bouldin in the claim, says that the alleged treatment of Bouldin, who over the years has been instrumental in improving the relationship between the police department and the community of color in Seattle, is a tough pill to swallow.
“Detective Denise ‘Cookie’ Bouldin has dedicated her career to service. She has been a trailblazer for others and a source of pride for the entire Black community. It is heartbreaking to learn of the level of discrimination she has faced at the hands of some of her fellow officers and supervisors,” says Bible. “We stand by her and plan to litigate this injustice with the hope that we can change things for the better.”
