Female Officer Alleges Sexual Harassment at Arroyo Grande Police Department

A female officer has filed a civil lawsuit against the Arroyo Grande Police Department alleging a culture of sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation was prevalent in the department.

Officer Kimberly Martin, a 13 year veteran, filed her lawsuit in September 2010, detailing a number of incidents of sexual harassment and discrimination against her and two other female officers. She says the harassment began in 2007.

According to her lawsuit, the problems began when she and the other women were sexually harassed by officer Barry Bridge. The women allege that Bridge would make offensive and demeaning remarks towards them.

The women reported the harassment and were outraged when Chief Steve Annibali offered Bridge retirement with full benefits and no disciplinary action.

At a mandatory staff meeting, Mayor Tony Ferrara chastised the women for making the sexual harassment allegations, which he suspected were “possibly a misunderstanding and would be cleared up soon.” The women attempted to discuss the mayor’s comments with Annibali, but he refused, according to the lawsuit.

The women also allege they were passed over for promotions that went to less qualified and less experienced male officers.

Any person, man or woman, who is subjected to harassment, can retain a sexual harassment attorney to help put an end to the hostility.

The victims of this sexually inappropriate behavior can seek out a sexual harassment lawyer to obtain compensation for lost wages, if the employee is fired out of retaliation. The main objective of a sexual harassment attorney is to end the harassment and make certain the working environment is no longer hostile.