Sources say deputy chief assigned as interim leader of Tacoma police. Here’s what we know

Sources tell The News Tribune that Tacoma Deputy Chief Paul Junger has been assigned as the police department’s interim leader while Chief Avery Moore is on paid administrative leave.

City spokesperson Maria Lee confirmed to The News Tribune on Thursday that Moore was placed on leave effective Wednesday. Lee did not say why the decision was made.

Junger has been deputy chief at the Police Department since May 2022, following Moore from Dallas. He has worked in law enforcement for over 15 years, according to his LinkedIn page.

The Tacoma Police Department’s website lists Junger’s duties as:

“Under the direction of the Chief of Police, the Deputy Chief assists in the overall direction of the department’s internal operations; directs assigned activities of the Tacoma Police Department; assures the effective protection of lives, property and constitutional rights through the enforcement of laws and ordinances; formulates, develops, implements and evaluates departmental policies, goals and objectives.”

Before coming to Tacoma, Junger was with the Dallas Police Department where he served as the lieutenant from January 2010 to 2015. He was the Major of Police before his departure.

Junger was recognized for his actions and received a Medal of Honor following an ambush in Dallas, Texas, where five police officers were killed during a protest on July 7, 2016, according to a CBS News report .

In April, Junger was named in a lawsuit filed by Moore’s former chief of staff Curtis Hairston that alleged Hairston was subjected to racial bias and discrimination during his 18 months with the Police Department.

Hairston claims Moore did not properly intervene when Hairston brought up issues. The suit alleged that Junger had harassed Hairston and made comments with racial connotations towards him. Moore told the two to work out their differences, The News Tribune reported .

The lawsuit is ongoing in Pierce County Superior Court and the city has denied all allegations of wrongdoing, the story said.