Wayne County Sheriff Raphael Washington is facing a lawsuit for sexual harassment filed by a former employee, Regina Parks, a past compliance officer and community outreach director. Parks, who served under Washington from 2019 to 2024, has accused him of a consistent pattern of sexual harassment. The allegations include inappropriate touching, lewd comments, and a particularly disturbing instance where he is accused of showing her an explicit video of himself, as reported by ClickOnDetroit.
In a legal move that raises as many questions as it does allegations, the lawsuit paints a harrowing picture of Parks' day-to-day experiences working alongside Washington. Parks claims that the unwelcome advances were often physically repulsed and verbally objected to, yet persisted throughout her tenure. The details of the harassment are said to include him striking her buttocks and making comments like "didn't know she had all that back there," as detailed by CBS News Detroit.
The sheriff's office issued a brisk statement shortly after the lawsuit surfaced, criticizing the timing of the filing and promising a thorough review upon receipt. Mara MacDonald, the sheriff's office's communications director, told ClickOnDetroit, "In what is a typical legal stunt, this lawsuit was apparently filed at the end of business today. We have not been served nor had the opportunity for a legal review. When that review is complete, there will be plenty to say."
Parks reported that she was discharged from her position in November 2024, which she alleges was a clear act of retaliation after bringing her accusations to the sheriff's chief of staff. Attempting to provide substantive proof, Parks claims to have secretly recorded conversations with Washington implicating him in sexual misconduct. This added layer of evidence, potentially damning, was referenced in a statement detailed by WXYZ. The lawsuit also references past allegations against Washington, some of which have ended in a settlement without admission of wrongdoing and others that seemed to have dissolved without formal resolution.
