Seattle police officer fired for racist and sexist remarks off duty

SEATTLE – A Seattle police officer has been fired after an investigation found he used racial slurs and sexist comments toward his neighbor in 2022.

An audio recording of the altercation shows Seattle police officer Burton Hill, on his off-duty duty, making insulting comments to his neighbor, an Asian woman, over an argument about her dogs.

The situation escalated when the neighbor asked Hill and his wife to keep their dog on a leash in certain areas of their Kenmore apartment complex. There had already been a number of previous arguments between the neighbor and Hill and his wife over the dogs.

The Chinese Information and Service Center (CISC) then filed a complaint of bias with the Office of Police Accountability (OPA) on behalf of the neighbor.

After the audio recording of the altercation became public, the officer was placed on leave in September 2023.

The Office of Police Accountability’s investigation found that the officer violated two different policies during the exchange: officers must not engage in bias-based policing, and their coworkers must strive for professionalism.

The OPA’s investigation found that Hill’s comments constituted a “serious violation of this policy.”

A third offense, in which Hill was accused of threatening the neighbor with jail time, was found inconclusive.

The OPA director summarized the findings by stating, “(Hill’s) conduct undermined the department’s commitment to eliminating bias at the individual and institutional levels and to building ‘mutual trust and respect with Seattle’s diverse group of communities.'”

Former SPD leader Adrian Diaz had the final say in the disciplinary proceedings against the official and recommended termination of his employment.

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