Bellevue police officer Jan M. Auclair Trizuto filed has a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the city of Bellevue and the Bellevue Police Department, claiming retaliation for reporting offensive and inappropriate stories by her training supervisor. Charging papers state that the supervising officer created an uncomfortable work environment by graphically speaking about his sexual experiences, past partners and by providing detailed descriptions of his own body parts while the two were alone in a patrol car.

Trizuto later began receiving inappropriate text messages, which she claims were unsolicited. Charging papers state that she didn’t report the incidents because she feared retaliation. She later confided in two colleagues, one of whom, a lieutenant, reported it against her wishes.

Once reported, Trizuto said another Bellevue police officer began ridiculing her in front of coworkers and threatening discipline. She also received a negative review of her work performance that she believes was influenced by the sexual harassment complaints.

“The work environment remains hostile and unchanged,” reads the charging papers. “…Commencing no earlier than 2008, BPD has engaged in a pattern and practice of retaliating against, or allowing its employees to retaliate against, employees who lodge formal complaints,” reads the charging papers.

A spokesperson said the police department is not able to discuss the details of any pending lawsuit, but added that “the City and Police Department take these matters very seriously and we are committed to fully addressing any allegations of wrongdoing.”