Missoula deputy sues county for discrimination

MISSOULA — A Missoula County sheriff’s deputy is suing the county alleging she was discriminated against by officers investigating the fact that she and a married officer kissed at her residence while the married officer was on duty.

Deputy Rebecca Birket first complained to the Montana Human Rights Bureau, alleging internal investigators kept pressing her for more details about the kiss, which she said violated her privacy. County officials said they believed she had lied because her statements and those of the unidentified married officer appeared rehearsed.

The bureau ruled in favor of the sheriff’s office, saying Birket and the other officer received the same two-shift suspension without pay for violating the department’s “relationships with married persons policy.”

County commissioners eventually rescinded her suspension and removed the investigation from her personnel file.