An investigation into a former Idaho police chief alleges he made officers feel "terrified" to go to work and abused them with "emotional terrorism," prompting the city's mayor to demand he step down.
Ryan Lee spent two years as Boise's top cop. Up until his resignation in 2022, several officers filed complaints against him, alleging he created a hostile and frightening work environment.
"It's the totality of it," an unidentified officer told Office of Police Accountability Director Jesus Jara during an internal investigation into Lee's conduct, according to newly released court documents, BoiseDev reported.
"Like just the whole being terrified to go to work. I mean, I've been doing this for a (long time), seven different chiefs. I've never been afraid to go into the building," the officer said.
"I've always known that I could talk to somebody, that they would communicate with me. They would help me grow, you know. But it's just, I'm going in there going, 'What'd I do wrong today?' It's just bad leadership. It's not a violation or anything. It's just - emotional terrorism at its worst."
Lee is also accused of making inappropriate comments during his tenure as chief about a female Ada County employee.
"I cannot believe she has a kid, if I was her kid — I would kill myself," Lee allegedly said, according to the documents. "I bet you she is one of those wives who beats her husband."
In another instance, Lee was accused of breaking Sergeant Kirk Rush's neck during a neck restraint demonstration to staff, according to the Idaho Statesman.
Lee also allegedly protected Boise Police Officer Tyson Cooper from disciplinary action, despite four complaints against him accusing him of excessive use of force, including an instance involving throwing a 17-year-old Black teen to the ground. Cooper and Lee trained in judo together, outside of work, according to the documents.
A total of nine complaints were filed against the former chief, and he subsequently stepped down from the position at the request of Boise Mayor Lauren McLean in October 2022.
In October 2023, Lee filed a $1 million lawsuit against several Boise police officers, accusing them of sabotaging his career, KMVT-TV reported.
