Two longtime Black officers with the Seattle Police Department are taking legal action against the city, claiming they endured years of racial discrimination, harassment, and a toxic work environment that city leaders failed to address.
Officers Michael Griffin and Corey Foy filed separate civil lawsuits in King County Superior Court on April 16, 2025, accusing the city and department leadership of fostering a culture where racism and mistreatment were ignored and, in some cases, perpetuated.
Griffin, who has served as a Seattle police officer for over three decades, says he was repeatedly singled out and mocked because of his race. He alleges that a lieutenant targeted him with comments about his appearance, including questioning whether he was “always sleepy,” while white colleagues who slept on duty faced no consequences. A more troubling incident involved fellow officers replacing the photo of a Black suspect with Griffin’s own picture and then altering it to include his name. The doctored image remained on display near a supervisor’s desk for weeks, with officers reportedly laughing as they passed it.
Griffin also recounts an incident where he responded professionally to a suspect who repeatedly used a racial slur against him. Despite his calm response, he claims he was disciplined and subjected to additional training, while white officers were not held to the same standard. In another instance, he says colleagues asked if his “people grew tails after midnight”—an overtly racist comment he found deeply offensive.
According to his lawsuit, Griffin was passed over for career opportunities such as becoming a field training officer and a hostage negotiator, despite meeting the qualifications and maintaining solid performance reviews. He claims white officers with similar or lesser credentials were advanced instead.
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Foy’s lawsuit paints a similarly disturbing picture. He describes an environment where racially charged language and microaggressions were common, and where complaints about such behavior were often dismissed or downplayed.
In one 2021 incident, Foy walked into the precinct in workout clothes before his shift and was publicly called a “damn thug” by Officer A.J. Marks. After changing into uniform and confronting Marks about the comment, he was called the same name again, according to the complaint. The Office of Police Accountability later found Marks had acted unprofessionally, but did not uphold a finding of racial bias, citing insufficient evidence of intent.
Foy also claims he was subjected to humiliating remarks from Sergeant Jennifer Samson, including an inappropriate joke made by her mother during a police event. Foy says Samson later accused him of being jealous over a coworker’s relationship, and ultimately transferred him under false pretenses. The officer he was swapped with reportedly had more seniority, contradicting the stated reason for the move.
Samson also allegedly insulted Foy’s work ethic, calling him “a slug,” while other officers reportedly mocked his Southern accent and made stereotypical remarks. One officer, for instance, sniffed the air while Foy was putting away lotion and sarcastically asked if it was cocoa butter. Another officer reportedly commented that Foy “looked sketchy” while wearing a hoodie to work—prompting Foy to question if the remark was racially motivated.
Like Griffin, Foy says he was denied overtime shifts and training opportunities, and believes some of those denials were in retaliation for speaking out about the harassment he faced. His complaint describes a pattern of being disciplined for minor infractions—like arriving late or forgetting his vest—while white officers were not held accountable for similar behavior.
Both men say their concerns were brushed aside by superiors, some of whom allegedly told them to “suck it up” rather than pursue complaints. Foy also says he was denied union representation during a disciplinary meeting with a lieutenant who shouted and cursed at him.
The lawsuits claim the city and department violated the Washington Law Against Discrimination and are also seeking damages under a state claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Griffin and Foy are requesting a jury trial, financial compensation, and a court-ordered overhaul of department policies to prevent future incidents of discrimination and retaliation.
These lawsuits add to a growing list of legal actions against the Seattle Police Department involving alleged discrimination. In recent years, female officers, a lieutenant, a detective, and even high-ranking personnel have filed complaints involving race, gender, harassment, and workplace misconduct. Earlier this month, the city settled one of those cases for nearly $1 million.
City officials have yet to respond publicly to the latest lawsuits. According to court records, Seattle has until September 2025 to file its official response. Discovery will close in March 2026, and mediation is scheduled to take place soon after. If no agreement is reached, the case will go to trial in April 2026.
