PRINEVILLE — Prineville’s former police chief allegedly retaliated against a department administrator who reported that he and a captain harassed and demeaned an officer who was injured while on duty, a new lawsuit against the city says.

Chief Larry Seymour resigned in January following a monthslong independent investigation that found that he and Capt. Rob Gray had been “untruthful” during the matter, according to the $1.5 million lawsuit against the city and Seymour.

Gray also resigned in January. He and Seymour had been placed on leave six months earlier. Neither could be reached for comment Friday, Feb. 23.

“No one should have to fear harassment and retaliation when coming forward and doing the right thing for the right reason,” said Nikki Hepworth, the whistleblower and former administrator, in a statement.

The lawsuit appears to shed light on the allegations behind the chief and captain’s departure, and the investigation city officials have repeatedly said they cannot discuss.

A medical provider for former Prineville Police Officer Lindsey Ward placed her on “light duty” after she was injured during a “use of force incident,” Hepworth’s attorney, Jennifer Middleton, states in court documents filed in the Crook County Circuit Court Feb. 16. Ward resigned from the Prineville Police Department in June.

Seymour and Gray had Ward wash walls and detail police vehicles, the lawsuit states. Darla Rhoden, the city’s human resources manager, saw Ward washing walls on Feb. 17, 2023.

When Rhoden asked Hepworth why this was happening, the administrator explained Seymour and Gray required Ward to do this work. Hepworth also said she had heard the two commenting “disparagingly” about Ward’s condition, the lawsuit states.

Hepworth’s statements to the city incensed Seymour, the lawsuit states, prompting tense meetings in which he scolded Hepworth.

Hepworth spoke with City Manager Steve Forrester on March 8, and reported Seymour’s “bullying, harassment, and abuse of authority toward Officer Ward, herself and others.” Despite her request to keep the conversation between them, Forrester told Seymour, the lawsuit states.

In meetings during the following weeks, Seymour and Forrester pushed Hepworth to resign, but she didn’t, the lawsuit states. Forrester asked Hepworth if the city should investigate Seymour on April 6, and then placed her on leave as the investigation began. Seymour and Gray were placed on leave on July 21, 2023.

While on leave, Seymour was paid $74,258.83 and Gray was paid $64,025.23, a spokeswoman previously told The Bulletin.

The lawsuit accuses Forrester of doing Seymour’s “bidding” and ensuring alternative job opportunities were not available to Hepworth. It says he required her to return to her old administrative job, but she declined. The city fired her on Feb. 5.

By email, The Bulletin sought the city’s side of the story from Forrester, city attorney Jered Reid and ShanRae Hawkins, of StingRay Communications, a public relations firm that works with the city.

The city issued a statement saying it cannot comment on pending litigation.

“The city of Prineville would like to thank the community for its patience over the previous months as we conducted thorough investigations regarding the Prineville Police Department concerning internal operations,” the statement said.

“While the City cannot currently disclose specific details about these investigations, we are focused on creating and maintaining a professional workplace conducive to the well-being of all employees while prioritizing the safety and well-being of the community.”

In January, the city hired Jim Band, a former police chief and longtime law enforcement official, to review the police department’s policies and protocols and provide suggestions for improvement, Hawkins said. He is also helping with the search for a new police chief.