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Sheriff Ray Washington (Photo: Twitter)
Wayne County Sheriff Raphael “Ray” Washington, running for re-election sidesteps questions about sexual harassment allegations by four women.
WXYZ's Ross Jones reports:
The investigations into the claims, made by four different women over a 14-year period, were not conclusive. Washington denied all of the allegations when they were made and, today, declined requests for an interview with 7 Action News about them. A law enforcement veteran, Washington was appointed sheriff following Benny Napoleon’s 2020 death from COVID-19.
His campaign issued a statement:
"The Retain Raphael Washington for Wayne County Sheriff Campaign does not respond to rumor and innuendo tossed about in a heated campaign season - particularly after they have been investigated by impartial parties as far back as nearly two decades ago, concluding there was never any cause for any actions to be taken."
Only one of the claims against Washington had been previously reported, Jones notes. In that matter, a female sheriff’s office employee alleged in a 2016 lawsuit that he repeatedly asked her for massages at work. The county admitted no wrongdoing in that and another case against another employee, and paid $85,000, Jones reports.
Washington denied the allegations from the accuser who still works for him.
In 2010, another department employee filed a harassment claim, alleging Washington persistently asked her out even though he knew she was married. He denied the allegations.
She eventually dropped the complaint, but stood by her allegations. She still works for the department.
