43 years and at age 67!

from
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/pioneering-detective-sues-spd-alleges-racial-and-gender-discrimination/

Pioneering detective files claim against SPD, alleges racial and gender
discrimination
March 17, 2023 at 3:56 pm

Seattle Police Department Detective Denise “Cookie” Bouldin
attends the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Adrian Diaz at City Hall in
January. Bouldin has filed a $10 million claim against the SPD, alleging
that she’s endured and witnessed years of racial and gender
discrimination. (Karen Ducey / The Seattle Times)
Seattle police Detective Denise “Cookie” Bouldin watches
kids play chess at the newly opened Detective Cookie Chess Park in
Rainier Beach in September. The park is named for Bouldin, who started
a chess club for kids in the South End years ago. (Daniel Kim / The
Seattle Times, 2022)

1 of 8 | Seattle Police Department Detective Denise “Cookie” Bouldin
attends the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Adrian Diaz at City Hall in
January. Bouldin has filed a $10 million claim against the SPD, alleging
that... (Karen Ducey / The Seattle Times)More
Mike Carter By Mike Carter
Seattle Times staff reporter
A pioneering Black woman who’s worked for decades as a Seattle police
officer has filed a $10 million claim against the Seattle Police
Department, alleging she’s endured and witnessed years of racial and
gender discrimination within the SPD.

Detective Denise “Cookie” Bouldin alleges she’s faced daily
discrimination during her 43 years with the department, including
instances where her loyalty has been questioned because of her close
relationships in Seattle’s communities of color.

The allegations are outlined in a tort claim filed Friday by Bouldin’s
lawyer, James Bible, a former chair of the King County NAACP. The city
has 60 days to respond. If the claim is denied, Bouldin can file a lawsuit.

Bouldin, 67, has been a prominent and bridge-building police officer in
Seattle’s diverse South Precinct, where for years she has taught
community children to play chess and build relationships. A Rainier
Beach park bearing her name opened last year.

RELATED Seattle’s new Detective Cookie Chess Park opens in Rainier Beach
All the while, Bouldin claims she has had to operate within a hostile
work environment where she’s weathered overtly racist remarks by white
supervisors and been ordered to perform menial tasks she finds
“degrading, humiliating and [with] racist overtones.”

“She files this claim for damages in hopes that the department will
authentically address issues related to the racism, sexism and other
forms of discrimination she has faced in her career,” the claim says.
“She notes that the hostile work environment she has been subjected to
has increased dramatically in recent years.”

In addition to discrimination, Bouldin alleges she also faced
retaliation after complaining about a co-worker who brought his pet dog
to work, setting up a dog pen and gate that Bouldin said she had to move
so she could access supplies necessary for her job. After taking the
issue to her supervisors, she said feces and dog food were left at her
locker.

Bouldin — who joined the SPD in 1980, when she says there was only one
other Black woman on the force — claims she has been witness to racism
by officers and supervisors, including an instance when the name of a
fellow Black officer was substituted for that of a wanted person on a
flyer posted on a precinct bulletin board. She also alleges some
officers have refused to back her up on the streets.

Bouldin said she once placed a pamphlet for the African American
Advisory Council on the desk of a female white sergeant who later asked,
“Who put this [expletive] on my desk?!” and threw the pamphlet away.
“That same sergeant later made it clear that she did not want to work
with any Black people,” the claim alleges.

The claim also contains a photograph of a poster on the locker of a
fellow South Precinct officer showing a grim-faced and heavily armed
white man. It states: “Some people require inspirational quotes to start
their day. Me: Caffeine and hate.”

“The poster clearly depicts an adversarial relationship with the
community the officer works with,” alleges the claim, which does not
name any specific SPD officials or officers.

A claim filed by Detective Denise “Cookie” Bouldin against
the city of Seattle contains a photograph of a poster on the locker of a
fellow South Precinct officer showing a grim-faced and heavily armed
white man. The poster reads: “Some people require inspirational
quotes to start their day. Me: Caffeine & hate.” (James Bible)
A claim filed by Detective Denise “Cookie” Bouldin against
the city of Seattle contains a photograph of a poster on the locker of a
fellow South Precinct officer showing a grim-faced and heavily armed
white man. The poster reads: “Some people require inspirational
quotes to start their day. Me: Caffeine & hate.” (James Bible)

1 of 3 | A claim filed by Detective Denise “Cookie” Bouldin against the
city of Seattle contains a photograph of a poster on the locker of a
fellow South Precinct officer... (James Bible)More
Bouldin said her race and her efforts to reach out and involve herself
in the city’s communities of color have made her a target within the
SPD, even as department leaders hold her out as a positive example of
community policing and bridge building.

“The Department regularly points to Detective Bouldin’s strong
relationship with the communities of color whenever there is controversy
in relation to a Seattle Police action,” the claim alleges. “Behind the
scenes, other officers and supervisors have belittled Detective Bouldin
and challenged whether she is with the Department or with the community.”

Bouldin runs a youth chess club and for decades has worked with young
people, both on and off duty — and sometimes with snacks — earning her
the sobriquet “Detective Cookie.”

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“Being well known for keeping kids out of jail and teaching youth what
to do when stopped by police has created a close relationship with the
community,” the claim says. “Unfortunately, some officers have overtly
held that against her and have treated her differently as a result.”

The SPD referred questions to the City Attorney’s Office, which had not
seen the claim and declined to comment.

The department in 2012 agreed to overhaul its use of force training,
address management deficiencies and take note of disturbing but
inconclusive evidence of biased policing as part of a federal settlement
agreement that has cost upward of $200 million and remains in effect today.

Data gathered as part of that process has shown that Seattle officers
continue to stop and use force against Black people far more often than
white people, even though the total number of such incidents is down
overall.

Editor’s note: A previous headline misstated the nature of Detective
Denise “Cookie” Bouldin’s filing. Bouldin has filed a tort claim against
the Seattle Police Department. The city has 60 days to respond. If the
claim is denied, Bouldin can file a lawsuit.

Mike Carter: 206-464-3706 or mcarter@seattletimes.com; on Twitter:
@stimesmcarter.
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