BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. (AP) -- The parent company of the Mohave Valley Daily News filed a lawsuit against Bullhead City, seeking public records related to an investigation of sexual harassment and hostile workplace allegations against city employees.

Nine city employees were placed on leave in January and February after two employees alleged sexual harassment and hostile workplace conditions.

The harassment complaint snowballed into concerns over inappropriate use of city property, specifically the use of city computers for sending and receiving racially offensive jokes and sexually explicit photos.

City officials emphasized that the four-month investigation by Bullhead City police officers wasn't criminal in nature and that the officers were used for their investigative skills.

A 300-page investigative report was released to the newspaper in early July, but the departments involved in the investigation were blacked out and the furloughed employees were given pseudonyms.

Three of the nine employees resigned and three were brought back to work, although one of those three quickly resigned to accept another job. The remaining three employees were terminated.

The lawsuit by News West Publishing Co. was filed Wednesday in Mohave County Superior Court.

City officials did not immediately return calls for comment Thursday afternoon.

Daily News publisher Chuck Rathbun said the lawsuit was filed because of concerns over the public right to access public records from governmental agencies.

"Throughout Arizona and across the nation, roadblocks are being thrown up to limit or prevent such access, which we believe is the case with the recent events at City Hall involving city of Bullhead City employees," Rathbun said.

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