Former Tacoma deputy police chief Paul Junger has taken his fight with the city to federal court, alleging he was pushed out of his job for calling out problems inside the Tacoma Police Department rather than for any misconduct of his own.
In a lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, Junger says he was unlawfully removed from his post after raising alarms about what he describes as improper hiring decisions, irregular spending approvals and timekeeping issues inside TPD. The complaint ties those concerns in part to a roughly $2 million overtime-driven budget shortfall and accuses city officials of retaliation and procedural failures, according to The News Tribune. Junger rejects findings that he created a hostile work environment and denies discrimination claims that surfaced while he was in the role.
Junger joined TPD in 2022 after a lengthy law enforcement career in Dallas. His tenure in Tacoma ended in March 2025, when the department announced his separation following an external Equal Employment Opportunity investigation. The department publicly confirmed at the time that he was no longer with TPD and linked that decision to the outside probe, as reported by FOX 13 Seattle.
What the lawsuit says
The complaint paints a picture of a disciplinary process that Junger says was steered toward an adverse outcome after he raised concerns up the chain. According to the filing, then department leaders and the city manager’s office allegedly influenced the investigation and discipline in retaliation for his internal reports, and he contends he was denied basic pre-disciplinary protections.
The lawsuit says Junger flagged concerns about the hiring of a department official and took broader misconduct allegations to the City Attorney’s Office. After that, he claims, he was gradually frozen out: removed from key meetings, stripped of responsibilities and eventually placed on administrative leave. The filing also alleges that damaging accusations were circulated publicly before he had a fair chance to respond. He is asking for a jury trial and general damages for lost wages and emotional distress, as summarized in reporting by The News Tribune.
Investigation and workplace history
City and industry reporting show that Junger’s departure followed an external investigation into workplace conduct that upheld certain complaints, particularly around how women in the department were treated. Earlier coverage described an investigator’s conclusion that some allegations about disrespectful behavior toward female employees were credible, a finding that helped set the stage for the March 2025 personnel move. Those investigation results were reviewed in detail by Police1 and in local reporting at the time.
Legal implications
Beyond challenging the specific workplace findings, Junger’s lawsuit argues that the way TPD and city officials handled the review violated his due process rights. The complaint says the investigation and the way its conclusions were publicized deprived him of a timely opportunity to defend himself and clear his name.
Junger is seeking a jury trial and unspecified general damages. Disputes involving the city typically move through Tacoma’s internal claims and litigation system, which is overseen by the City Attorney’s Office and processed via the municipal claims portal. Details on that process are outlined by the City of Tacoma.
The case adds another layer of legal and political tension to an already rocky period for TPD leadership, which has been rattled by multiple personnel complaints and investigations in recent years. Court filings, discovery and any future statements from city officials could surface additional records and context as the lawsuit moves forward. We will be watching the federal docket and city documents for further developments.
