Dispatcher Taser’d, Now Suing County

An Adams County (Wash.) sheriff’s dispatcher who says she was Taser’d on-duty in Jan. 2007 by a corrections officer is now suing the county, claiming she was the target of on-going harassment after the incident that included other sworn employees pointing Tasers at her. Jeanette Ivan says she reported the Taser incident to her supervisor, but that, “He thought it was humorous.” Ivan’s lawsuit says that others in the sheriff’s department learned of the original incident, the Tasering became a workplace “joke,” and co-workers and supervisors began a campaign of harassment. “Most prevalent and disturbing,” the lawsuit states, “was the continued use of tasers to frighten and intimidate plaintiff.” The lawsuit says deputies pointed Tasers at her “several times a day,” and one jail commander did so while asking her, “Are you scared bitch?” The lawsuit claims that incident was witnessed by the undersheriff, but no action was ever taken. She complained to supervisors and provided specific dates, times and personnel names, but the lawsuit claims the supervisors took no action. With the harassment continuing and no action being taken, Ivan resigned in May 2009. The lawsuit asks for damages, saying Ivan suffered “past, present and future pain and suffering, both physical and emotional.” Download (pdf) the full lawsuit here.