Lawsuit Accuses Vancouver of Withholding Police Misconduct Records

City faces allegations of violating public records law by refusing to release documents related to internal investigations

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The city of Vancouver, Washington is facing a lawsuit for allegedly violating the state Public Records Act by refusing to release documents related to internal investigations into high-ranking police officials. Vicki Ballou filed the complaint after the city allegedly withheld crucial evidence that she claims will expose "managerial incompetence, corruption and the waste of public funds" within the police department.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing tensions between public transparency and police accountability, as well as the challenges citizens can face in obtaining records related to internal investigations of law enforcement officials. The lawsuit also comes amid a broader context of allegations of discrimination and retaliation within the Vancouver Police Department.

The details

Ballou filed the complaint in December 2026 after more than a year of what she argues was the city dodging her records requests. She is seeking to compel the city to release the full unredacted records, issue a formal finding that it violated the Public Records Act, and impose a $100 daily penalty for each unlawfully withheld record. The central dispute involves an internal affairs complaint Ballou filed in April 2024 accusing several police officials of lying during an investigation into a gender discrimination claim.

  • Ballou filed the complaint on December 9, 2026.
  • Ballou filed an internal affairs complaint in April 2024.
  • Between May 2024 and August 2025, Ballou submitted six public records requests seeking the investigator's files.

The players

Vicki Ballou

The plaintiff who filed the lawsuit against the city of Vancouver for allegedly violating the state Public Records Act.

Troy Price

The former assistant chief of the Vancouver Police Department who was accused of lying during an internal investigation.

Blaise Geddry

A lieutenant in the Vancouver Police Department who was accused of lying during an internal investigation.

McAvoy Shipp

A sergeant in the Vancouver Police Department who was accused of lying during an internal investigation.

Miranda Skeeter

A detective in the Vancouver Police Department who filed a gender discrimination claim that led to an internal investigation.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.