Three unions demand outside investigation into Tacoma-Pierce County Health Director鈥檚 conduct
Apr 14, 2025, 11:49 AM

Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department's Public Health Director Chantell Harmon Reed. (Photo courtesy of Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department)
(Photo courtesy of Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department)
Three separate unions filed a complaint against the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s public health director, alleging she created a toxic work environment and practiced bullying and other unethical behavior.
The complaints were filed with the Board of Health. The three unions鈥擳eamsters Local 117, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 120, and Tacoma Pierce County Public Health Employees Association鈥攔epresent employees with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. The public health director cited in the complaints, Chantell Harmon Reed, has held that role for approximately one year.
The specifics of the complaint
According to , the complaint claimed Reed’s “extremely hostile work environment” caused “good people” to leave the department due to “demeaning, belittling, condescending, and disrespectful” communication.
“The Board takes all complaints seriously, especially when one is filed against someone in a position of leadership. We also must ensure due process. To do so, we plan to hire an outside agency to investigate this matter. While that process takes place, we will not comment on any specific allegations,” Tacoma City Council Member Joe Bushnell told The Tacoma News Tribune. “The Board of Health will continue to support Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and all its employees in its mission to protect and improve the health of all people and places in Pierce County.”
The complaint asked the Department of Health to launch an outside investigation into the matter.
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