WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The report of the investigation into a Whatcom County Undersheriff has been publicly released.

Undersheriff Steve Harris was reinstated to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WSCO) late last week.

He had been on paid administrative leave since Aug. 30 after Sheriff Tanksley and the Human Resources Department received complaints against Harris.

On Monday, Nov. 4, Sheriff Tanksley released the independent investigation’s report.

The report concluded that due to Harris’s fast rise to undersheriff under Tanksley, there was significant distrust between officers and command. The report says that distrust resulted in suspicion when changes were made to policy and procedure.

The attorney that conducted the investigation found Harris to be credible, and had been unprofessional at times, which Harris acknowledged in his interview.

“In summary, while I do not find Undersheriff Harris engaged in unlawful retaliation, discrimination, or unethical conduct, there are instances where his conduct has been unprofessional, which Undersheriff Harris acknowledges,” said attorney Jeffery M. Wells in the report.

Harris did make some inappropriate, sexual comments on two occasions as well as used expletives when speaking to WSCO employees.