King County Councilwoman Kathy Lambert has jumped into the middle of a growing controversy surrounding the firing of a Redmond police commander.

Lambert said yesterday she witnessed a key event that led to the sacking last week of Gail Marsh. But she claims Redmond police refused to believe her and omitted her account from a lengthy report.

In another development, the Redmond City Council last night approved a new contract for some of its police commanders, ensuring them independent arbitration. Union leaders claimed the city delayed the vote until Marsh was gone. But Redmond Mayor Rosemarie Ives said yesterday that Marsh is still entitled to arbitration.

Marsh, a 23-year department veteran and the first female officer hired by Redmond, was placed on administrative leave in April and ordered not to speak about a nine-month internal investigation of her performance.

In a termination letter signed by Police Chief Steve Harris and Ives, Marsh is accused of repeated untruthfulness, misuse of position and unbecoming conduct, among other violations.

Marsh claims the investigation was a "witch hunt" to oust her. In September, she filed a whistle-blower complaint against the city, alleging this was retaliation for reporting police misconduct.

Both Harris and Ives said yesterday that it is against city policy to discuss details of personnel matters.

"I won't talk about it. It's a done deal with me," Harris said.

The investigation began after a Jan. 19 phone complaint Marsh made to a Redmond police lieutenant. A day earlier, Marsh's 17-year-old son was arrested on suspicion of drinking in public.

Lambert, a friend of Marsh's, said the commander was "very calm" during the call, contrary to police reports that she was screaming and intimidating. Lambert said the police did not believe her several months later when she told them she was with Marsh at her house.

"The way I felt in the investigation was that I was some sort of street-urchin bum. They kept asking me the same question over and over," Lambert said. "After about the fifth time I drew them a picture of the room and showed them where I had sat next to Gail."

Lambert thought her standing in the community would make her a credible witness: "I am not in the habit of lying," she said.

Lambert said she first met Marsh professionally in 1984 but they did not become close friends until this year.

Lambert said she "begged and pleaded" with Ives, to no avail, to open an investigation into the treatment of Marsh.

Marsh could not be reached for comment yesterday.