TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Nine former members of an embattled Pierce County sheriff’s drug unit are suing the county claiming department administrators targeted them to influence the November election and tarnished their reputations. The News Tribune reports the lawsuit was filed last week and followed nine $1.5 million claims filed on behalf of Lt. Cynthia Fajardo, Sgt. Chris Adamson, detectives Darrin Rayner, Ryan Olivarez, Elizabeth Reigle and Shaun Darby, and deputies Jason Bray, Lucas Cole and James Maas. They are seeking unspecified damages. The sheriff’s Special Investigation Unit was disbanded in 2020 amid concerns that some members had violated policies and procedures. Officials from the Sheriff’s Department and Prosecutor’s Office declined to comment citing pending litigation.
Drug investigators sue county, say reputations tarnished
