Whatcom County Sheriff Donnell Tanksley has released the 28-page investigation into the conduct of Undersheriff Steve Harris that led to his two-month-long paid administrative leave.
Harris was put on paid leave on Aug. 30 and returned to full duty on Nov. 1 while the investigation was completed. Complaints against Harris include allegations of a hostile work environment, retaliation, discrimination, code of conduct violations, unprofessionalism and other concerns, the report reveals.
The report found Harris didn’t engage in retaliation or unethical conduct, and noted instances of Harris being unprofessional, which the report said he acknowledged during the investigation period.
The Seattle-based law firm Williams, Kastner and Gibbs concluded there was a significant distrust between Harris and Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office employees that created “a situation where benign conduct and or changes in practices are viewed suspiciously.”
But the distrust runs both ways, according to the report. Harris “questions the motivations of certain WCSO employees because of past events, like the [2023 sheriff’s] election.”
As a result of the investigation, Tanskley said he was “taking measures to address the concerns expressed.”
Fifteen people were interviewed during the investigation. Of the 32 concerns listed in the report, some include Harris allegedly making inappropriate comments, allegedly eliminating the sign-in book at the Department of Emergency Management, “parking spot intimidation,” and improper employee interactions.
Harris told the investigator that he acknowledged making some comments while not remembering if he made others.
Some decisions made, including removing the sign-in book at Emergency Management, were not because of Harris, according to the report, but rather made by Tanksley and other superiors.
The investigator also found that when Tanksley took over as sheriff after winning the election in 2023, some employees were concerned because of Harris’s promotion to undersheriff because of his lack of command experience. Additional concerns were raised from interactions with Harris as a deputy and union guild president.
Throughout the investigation, Harris remained a credible witness and took responsibility for his actions, the report states.
“[He] was transparent about his frustrations — even where it would have been easier to explain away or deflect,” the report states. “He also seems to recognize his words and actions carry considerable influence and that his intent can be misinterpreted given the newness of his position and employees’ past perceptions of him.”
Harris has more than 28 years of experience in the sheriff’s office. He was promoted in December 2023 by newly-elected Tanksley from deputy to undersheriff and started the job on Jan. 1. When Harris was a detective, he handled major crimes and complex financial crimes. He was also a field training officer and a member of the marine patrol.
Harris served for 14 years as president of the Whatcom County Deputy Sheriff’s Guild. He also unsuccessfully ran for sheriff in 2011.
Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.
