BOISE, Idaho — A newly unsealed report reveals new details about the severity of nine complaints against former Boise Police Chief Ryan Lee, who resigned at the request of Mayor Lauren McLean in fall 2022 after KTVB published a story about the complaints.
The report is part of a lawsuit Jesus Jara, former Boise Office of Police Accountability director, previously filed against the city. He claims the city illegally fired and retaliated against him for recommending Lee be placed on leave.
A lawyer wrote the report after the city asked him to decide whether the allegations against Lee were criminal and violated policy and protocol. He reviewed videos and documents, specifically a memorandum by Jara recommending leave.
Some of the complaints include Lee allegedly refusing to place an officer on restrictive duty because of their personal relationship and stating an officer's wife was overreacting about a domestic situation, and Lee supposedly "yells at his wife all the time."
One of the complaints also states Lee allegedly interfered in the investigation of an officer who made inconsistent statements about his involvement in a shooting; another states Lee was unhappy with the disciplinary action recommended for an officer who referred to a division as the SS. Several officers claimed he was the cause of mental health breakdowns.
"[The lawyer] concluded that most of what was taking place was second guessing," Lee's attorney Bill Mauk said." "It was entering into the areas of discretion that the chief has the authority to exercise."
Mauk said the report helps clear Lee's name and hopes it changes the public perception of him. Lee is unemployed because no law enforcement agencies will hire him amid the controversy.
"There were no violations of policy, no violations of the law," he said. "[Lee] never had any due process. He never had a chance to know what the complaints were, and he wants some major vindication."
While the report said there was not enough evidence to recommend placing Lee on leave, the lawyer did say Lee would benefit from leadership training "where the OPA MEMO suggest he is engaging in the micromanagement of command staff." He also said BPD's policies and procedures would benefit from revision and restructuring as well.
A spokesperson said the city cannot comment because of pending litigation and personnel issues. KTVB reached out to Jara's lawyer but has not heard back.
Lee is one of the defendants in a lawsuit filed by Boise police Sgt. Kirk Rush. In his suit, Rush claims Lee severely injured his neck while demonstrating hold techniques. It states Lee "paraded Rush around the briefing room by his neck." Rush also accuses the City of Boise of negligence and states the city decided against conducting its own inquiry into the incident.
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