Former Port of Seattle police chief awarded $24.2M in damages over wrongful firing

(The Center Square) – A King County Superior Court jury has awarded former Port of Seattle Police Chief Rod Covey $24.2 million in damages, but the port is considering an appeal.

Covey sued the port in late 2022 for wrongful termination after he was fired that August, which marked a year after the Port placed him on administrative leave. Covey was placed on administrative leave in 2020 after an internal investigation found he had violated the port’s Code of Conduct and Human Resources policies after a port police officer filed racial discrimination complaints against superior officers, including Covey.

The Seattle Times first reported on the jury rewarding Covey $24.2 million on Monday, following the Seattle jury's deliberation. The $24.4 million in damages is an 11,134% increase over Covey’s 2020 police chief annual salary of $215,415.

The Port of Seattle informed The Center Square that it is reviewing the verdict and considering an appeal of the jury’s decision.

“The Port continues to stand by its decision to terminate former Police Department Chief Rod Covey based on violations of the Port’s Code of Conduct,” the port said in an email. “The Port will continue to enforce its code of conduct and will take appropriate action when someone is found to have violated these policies.”

Seattle Attorney Jake Downs represented Covey and expressed his gratitude to the jury for “righting this terrible wrong.”

“The Port’s conduct leading to Chief Covey's wrongful termination was nothing short of shameful and reprehensible,” Downs emailed The Center Square. “In nearly 20 years of defending and suing companies and governmental entities, I have never seen such incompetence and despicable behavior.”

Downs pointed to Executive Director Steve Metruck, former Chief Operating Officer David Soike, General Counsel Pete Ramels and Human Resources Director Katie Gerard for the port’s failures regarding the decision to terminate Covey.

“I’m sure they will attempt to justify their mistakes with more excuses and slanderous accusations against Chief Covey,” Downs added.

Covey has been in public service for 45 years. Prior to his role as Port of Seattle police chief, he had served as the deputy chief at the Port of Seattle Police Department since November 2009. Covey also served 32 years with the Arizona Department of Public Safety.