Female LACo Sheriff K9 Handlers Request Internal Emails in Discrimination Suit

Two female Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. canine handlers want a judge to order the production of internal communications between their superiors that they say could be vital to their discrimination suit, but the county is opposing the format of the request as violative of the state Evidence Code.

Deputies Joy Schuerger and Amber Bissell worked as Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputies in the Department’s K9 unit. In their Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit they contend their former supervisor, Sgt. Jeremy Draper, displayed an “overt animosity” toward women and constantly criticized and publicly berated them. The women’s allegations include gender discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

Draper frequently sent text messages and emails, changing their work schedules at the last possible moment, and when Schuerger and Bissell did not receive these communications in time to comply with Draper’s directives, he issued unjustified disciplinary actions for showing up late or in the wrong location, the suit further alleges.

Because Draper allegedly had the support of a lieutenant, Mary DeBella and a chief, Jason Wolak, the plaintiffs are entitled to obtain and review written communications between the three superiors that relate, refer or pertain to Schuerger and Bissell, the deputies’ attorneys argue in their court papers.

“These collective communications would tend to prove their collective efforts to punish Schuerger and Bissell for complaining about the illegal employment practices,” the deputies’ attorneys write in their pleadings.

Schuerger and Bissell also seek documents relating to the department’s investigation into their complaints of discrimination and harassment, which they say wrongly became a probe into the plaintiffs themselves, the deputies’ lawyers further state in their court papers while adding that Draper accused them of time card fraud.

But in their court papers filed Wednesday with Judge Jon R. Takasugi in advance of a Sept. 8 hearing, county attorneys contend the motion is procedurally defective because it conflates two types of motions into one in violation of the state Evidence Code. The defense lawyers also state that the motion is “over broad and inconsistent.”

According to the plaintiffs’ suit, Draper made sexist comments about women in general and “never seemed to overlook the opportunity to scold Schuerger and Bissell in front of their coworkers.”

Although keeping their dogs well trained and certified was an obvious benefit to Schuerger and Bissell, Draper actively attempted to prevent Schuerger and Bissell from certifying their dogs, the suit states.

“Eventually the discrimination and harassment became so bad that Schuerger and Bissell complained about sex discrimination to their lieutenant, Mary DeBella, who did nothing to investigate their claims, but rather, belittled them for being too sensitive,” the suit states.

When Schuerger and Bissell continued to complain to Department management, they were met with resistance every step of the way and both plaintiffs were investigated, suspended and demoted in retaliation when they continued to speak out, the suit filed last Aug. 12 alleges.