The city of La Verne Thursday responded to allegations that management has not done enough to stop the alleged harassment of her by an acting captain and a sergeant, saying the city will conduct a complete investigation.
Officer Janessa Gonzalez’s Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit also alleges retaliation, discrimination and failure to correct. She seeks unspecified damages in the suit brought Monday.
City Manager Ken Domer issued a statement Thursday regarding Gonzalez’s suit.
“As a general rule on litigation matters, the city does not provide comment,” Domer said. The city does not tolerate harassment or discrimination in any form. The allegations detailed in the complaint have never before been provided to the city. We have attempted to, and will, conduct a complete investigation. Due to the case relating to confidential personnel matters, the city cannot offer any additional information at this time.”
Gonzalez was hired in 2018 and her complaint alleges she has been “subjected to a continuous barrage of sexual comments and advances” from Acting Capt. Cory Leeper and Sgt. Mark Gutierrez. During a briefing, Leeper commented on Gonzalez’s physique and suggested she work out with him to improve the shape of her posterior, the suit alleges.
During another briefing, Leeper asked Gonzales to stand in front of about 30 SWAT officers and model a pair paints that he had “approved” for her, leaving her “objectified and humiliated,” according to the suit, which also states that Leeper joked to Gonzalez that she “liked switching out new cars just as much as switching out fiances.”
Leeper also repeatedly contacted Gonzalez after her complaints to the police chief got his appearance cancelled at a conference she attended to ask why he was removed, the suit states.
Gonzalez has requested a shift change to minimize his contact with Leeper, but he has kept his hours aligned with hers, the suit states.
Gonzalez alleges that Gutierrez made comments suggesting that the plaintiff is promiscuous with members of other departments and she also contends he maintained a so-called “cuss jar” where the mention of names of individuals who had been in relationships with Gonzalez resulted in a $1 donation.