Former Kimberly police chief facing lawsuit from ex-detective

Cole Quinn, KMVT

KIMBERLY (KMVT/KSVT) — An ex-detective with the Kimberly Police Department has filed a lawsuit against the city and former Chief of Police Jeff Perry.

The lawsuit, filed by Shane Braack-Saufley, claims that Perry and the City of Kimberly violated the Idaho Human Rights Act by creating a hostile work environment and unlawful reprisals. Braack-Saufley has accused Perry of intentional infliction of emotional distress and battery, while also accusing the city of negligent supervision and retention.

Braack-Saufley worked under Perry as a detective sergeant with the Kimberly Police Department from November 2011 until his resignation in August 2023, according to the complaint and demand for jury trial.

Perry mocked, questioned and belittled Braack-Saufley about his religious beliefs on a “near-daily basis” since 2017, court records show. Braack-Saufley is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, while Perry previously left the church in 2017.

Perry told Braack-Saufley that his “religion was corrupt,” he was a “hypocrite for believing in his religion” and that “he could not be a good police officer and a good upstanding member of the church,” according to the complaint.

Perry would also schedule “mandatory” training on Sundays during Braack-Saufley’s church hours, refusing to allow him to train on a different day or time.

Perry would also pressure Braack-Saufley to drink coffee or alcohol on a “near daily basis.” Perry would also offer nicotine patches to him, even when told to stop, according to the complaint.

In the complaint, Perry is accused of making “deplorable comments about women,” including making derogatory comments toward Braack-Saufley’s wife and ex-wife.

Perry’s behavior also led to verbal abuse, physical hostilities and intimidation, according to the lawsuit. In one instance, Perry and several officers “came into Braack-Saufley’s office, grabbed him and then handcuffed Braack-Saufley and duct taped him to a chair,” according to the complaint. The group rolled Braack-Saufley to the front area to show other employees.

Braack-Saufley developed intense anxiety while working under a “hostile and toxic work environment,” ultimately leading to his resignation on Aug. 18, 2023, according to the complaint. Despite him reporting Perry’s behavior multiple times, no action was taken to prevent or stop the harassment.

The complaint also states that Perry “made it clear that if employees objected to his behavior, their career would be in jeopardy” and that Perry stated “officers that sue their departments are ‘blackballed’ in law enforcement and will never get a job in law enforcement.”

An investigation by the City of Kimberly “corroborated Chief Perry’s pattern of discriminatory and hostile behavior” and “revealed systemic issues and verified that Perry’s actions created a toxic work environment,” according to court records. The investigation also found that employees felt reproting Perry’s behavior would not result in reprisal “because no meaningful changes would occur.”

“Perry allegedly deleted and completely wiped the phone issued to him by the city” during the investigation, according to the complaint.

In the lawsuit, Braack-Saufley is seeking economic and noneconomic damages from wage loss, special damages and relief.

KMVT reached out to the City of Kimberly regarding the lawsuit and if Perry resigned or retired from his position back in 2024.

“The statement from the city is that this is a personnel issue,” City Administrator Craig Eckles said. “The city nor staff have any comments.”

A notice of appearance and acceptance of service took place on March 18, 2025, according to iCourt.

The next court date is currently unknown.