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Washtenaw County Sheriff Alyshia Dyer’s office filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the county, Washtenaw County Administrator Gregory Dill and the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners after the passage of Resolution 25-249 on Dec. 3, which put four human resource positions at the Sheriff’s Office under the county’s control. The Board of Commissioners approved the resolution with eight votes in favor and one abstention, citing reports of misconduct within the Sheriff’s Office’s HR department, including violations of the County’s workplace standards, intimidation, retaliation and diminishing employee confidence.

Employees in these positions — including two HR specialists and two administrative operations coordinators — help Dyer hire and train other employees, maintain records, facilitate payroll, supervise the department and implement policies. The lawsuit seeks to challenge the Board’s reallocation of power.

The resolution also states it would not reduce the Sheriff’s power, as it still maintains the authority to hire and fire police officers. However, the lawsuit argues the Sheriff’s control of HR positions is crucial as workers are granted access to confidential law enforcement records. The Office claims it cannot effectively execute its duties without control of the positions.

Commissioner Justin Hodge, D-District 5 and vice chair of the Board of Commissioners, said during the Dec. 3 meeting the Board decided to take action after it was informed of a toxic work environment in the Sheriff’s Office.

“To the employees that have experienced harm, I’m sorry that we were not able to act fast enough to prevent that harm, and I’m hopeful that taking this step prevents any further harm to our employees,” Hodge said. “We have a duty and responsibility to all of the staff in Washtenaw County, and that’s why we are taking this step as quickly as we possibly can when we became aware of the significant issues.”

At the meeting, Commissioner Caroline Sanders, D-District 4, said she believes the decision supports employees and will prevent workplace misconduct issues from occurring in the future. Sanders said the County is liable for misconduct in the Sheriff’s Office, which resulted in the resolution.

“Employees should not be faced with having to come into a hostile work environment, and it is our responsibility to make sure that every employee has a level playing field,” Sanders said. “At the end of the day, people should be able to come in and do their job, receive the direction that they need, the support that they need and sometimes the discipline without being afraid.”

The lawsuit claims the Board did not cite factual evidence and instead relied on on rumors from anonymous sources and an incomplete sexual assault investigation as pretext for increased County oversight over the Sheriff’s Office.

“On information and belief, the personnel issues primarily involved three instances of internal discipline within the Sheriff’s office,” the lawsuit read. “Two of the three instances were investigated by the County’s corporation counsel (and an outside law firm), with those investigations concluding that neither the Sheriff nor any of her personnel acted inappropriately.”

The lawsuit claims Katie Scott, D-District 9, Board of Commissioners chair, has worked to undermine Dyer’s authority since the Sheriff’s election in November 2024.

“Commissioner Katie Scott … has written to the Sheriff in a reprimanding and condescending tone, including (a) ‘requesting’ that the Sheriff personally attend meetings and respond to financial and operational questions that fall squarely within her discretion, and (b) chastising her for cancelling a meeting in a way suggesting that the Board possesses supervisory authority over her daily schedule and duties,” the lawsuit read.

In a press release, Dyer said the lawsuit aims to protect the Sheriff’s Office and its goal of keeping Washtenaw County safe.

“Sheriff Dyer hopes this action can provide peace and assurances to the hardworking employees at the Sheriff’s Office,” the statement read. “The Office will continue enacting the Sheriff’s Office mission of creating a safer more just and compassionate Washtenaw County for all. Sheriff’s Office day-to-day, public safety operations and the work to implement the Office’s mission and values will continue, undeterred.”

Scott and Dyer did not respond to The Michigan Daily’s request for comment in time for publication.

Daily News Editor Dominic Apap can be reached at dapap@umich.edu.