SEATTLE — A Seattle police officer was fired after an investigation found he used racial slurs and sexist comments toward his neighbor in 2022.
An audio recording of the confrontation captured Seattle officer Burton Hill hurling offensive comments at his neighbor, an Asian woman, over a dispute about their dogs while he was off duty.
Things escalated when the neighbor asked Hill and his wife to keep their dog on a leash in certain areas of their condo building in Kenmore. There has been a series of prior arguments between the neighbor and Hill and his wife about the dogs.
The Chinese Information and Service Center (CISC) then filed a bias complaint with the Office of Police Accountability (OPA) on behalf of the neighbor.
After the audio recording of the altercation went public, the officer was placed on administrative leave in September 2023.
The Office of Police Accountability investigation found that the officer violated two different policies during the exchange: Officers will not engage in bias-based policing, and employees will strive to be professional.
The OPA investigation determined Hill's comments were a "textbook violation of this policy."
A third violation that accused Hill of threatening the neighbor with jail time was found to be inconclusive.
The OPA director concluded the findings by stating, "[Hill's] behavior undermined the department's commitment to eradicating bias at an individual and institutional level and building 'mutual trust and respect with Seattle's diverse group of communities'."
Former SPD Chief Adrian Diaz had the final say in the officer's discipline and recommended his employment be terminated.
For a daily roundup of everything you need to know for across western Washington, sign up for our 5 Things to Know email newsletter.