Former acting captain files harassment lawsuit against Whatcom County Fire District 7

FERNDALE, Wash. — Sheena Radder filed a lawsuit in United States District Court for the Western District of Washington on April 23, 2026, against Whatcom County Fire District No. 7. Radder, who served as a Firefighter/EMT and Acting Captain between 2007 and 2024, alleges sexual harassment, retaliation, and violations of the Silenced No More Act.

According to the complaint, 2 district captains engaged in harassment from 2013 to 2024. Alleged conduct included the following.

stealing undergarments from a private locker
following Radder around the workplace
rubbing against Radder while making sexual sounds
covertly photographing female employees
making offensive sexual and sexist comments
brushing Radder’s chest and hair with fingers
simulating masturbation with a firehose

Radder reported the conduct to then Assistant Fire Chief Ben Boyko in 2023. The complaint states Boyko told Radder to “file a formal complaint or never raise the issue again, because he was only going
to deal with it once.” Following the report, the district conducted an investigation that lasted 10 months. The investigator interviewed Radder on August 2, 2023.

The lawsuit alleges the district retaliated by:

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denying Radder a promotion
transferring Radder to a different station
removing Radder from Acting Captain shifts
threatening discipline for speaking up

The investigation corroborated that 2 managers had harassed Radder. One manager was barred from serving as Acting Captain for 45 days before being promoted to Captain. Another captain retired early. The district directed Radder to a life coach to assist with the perception that she was being treated differently.

Radder submitted her resignation on April 16, 2024, with a final employment date of April 25, 2024. The district placed her on administrative leave for her remaining days of employment.

Whatcom County Fire District7 serves approximately 23,000 residents from 6 fire stations around and near Ferndale. During Radder’s 17 years at the district, it employed 3 female firefighters and had 0 women in leadership positions.