It was the kind of career move that makes sense on paper but feels a little jarring to the audience left behind. One minute, Jamie Tompkins is the poised, familiar face anchoring the evening news on FOX 13 Seattle (formerly Q13). The next, she’s gone from the anchor desk to the inner sanctum of the Seattle Police Department.
If you’ve lived in Western Washington long enough, you know the transition from journalism to public relations is a well-worn path. It’s usually quiet. It’s usually boring. But for Tompkins, the shift from reporting the news to becoming the news turned into a massive, tangled legal drama involving $3 million claims, a Star Wars birthday card, and a police chief’s career going up in flames.
Honestly, the whole thing feels more like a script for a prestige cable drama than a personnel matter at City Hall.
The Jump From FOX 13 to SPD
Jamie Tompkins wasn’t just a random reporter. She had spent a decade in the Seattle media market, building a reputation for being sharp and professional. When she left FOX 13 in May 2023, people noticed. She didn't just go to a firm; she became the Chief of Staff for then-Police Chief Adrian Diaz.
It was a high-profile, $180,000-a-year civilian role.
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Almost immediately, the whispers started. You’ve probably heard the rumors if you follow Seattle politics—people within the department were questioning why a news anchor was suddenly running the Chief’s inner circle. Within 18 months, those whispers became a roar. By late 2024, Tompkins was placed on administrative leave. By November 6, 2024, she resigned.
She didn't go quietly.
The Birthday Card and the $3 Million Claim
At the heart of what happened to Jamie Tompkins is a bizarre piece of evidence: a birthday card featuring a fuzzy Ewok from Star Wars.
An internal investigation by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) alleged that this card was proof of a romantic relationship between Tompkins and Chief Diaz. Investigators even hired handwriting analysts. One expert claimed it was "highly probable" Tompkins wrote a love letter inside the card.
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Tompkins fought back. Hard.
In May 2025, she filed a $3 million tort claim against the City of Seattle. She didn’t just deny the affair; she claimed the department was a "sexually hostile work environment" where rumors were weaponized to destroy her. She called the birthday card a flat-out forgery. Her legal team even brought in their own handwriting expert, Hanna McFarland, who argued that the city’s analysis was flawed and that the card likely wasn't hers.
What she actually says happened:
- The Setup: She believes she was "collateral damage" in a move to oust Chief Diaz.
- The Harassment: Her claim alleges that SPD officers surveilled her apartment and made crude comments about her appearance.
- The "Whisper Campaign": She says the rumors started before she even walked through the door on her first day.
Where Jamie Tompkins Is Now
As of early 2026, the dust is far from settled. While she has largely stepped out of the public eye to deal with the ongoing legal battle, the fallout remains a massive point of contention in Seattle's "Law and Order" circles.
The Washington State Employment Security Department actually sided with her on one front. They approved her unemployment benefits after she resigned, concluding she had a "good reason" to quit due to the work environment. That's a small win in a very large, very expensive fight.
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She’s basically been forced to reinvent herself outside of the newsroom and the police station. You won't find her back on the local news—at least not yet. The damage to her professional reputation, as she states in her legal filings, has been "dehumanizing."
Why This Case Still Matters
The story of Jamie Tompkins is more than just a "did they or didn't they" tabloid mystery. It’s a case study in how quickly a professional reputation can be dismantled in the era of social media and internal politics.
If you are following this case, keep an eye on the mediation results. The $3 million demand letter and Diaz’s own $10 million claim are moving through the system. Whether a jury ever sees that Ewok card remains to be seen.
Next Steps for Following the Case:
- Monitor Seattle City Council records: Settlement payments over a certain threshold must be approved and made public.
- Check the OIG website: The Office of Inspector General occasionally releases follow-up reports on SPD "culture and climate" that reference these high-profile departures.
- Follow local legal blogs: Outlets like The Urbanist and Publicola often dive deeper into the specific legal filings of these tort claims than the nightly news.