El Centro - A lawsuit is filed against a local police department over allegations of sexual harassment and gender discrimination in the workplace.
The lawsuit was filed against El Centro Police Department in a San Diego federal court by a former female police officer.
Court documents show allegations of continuous sexual harassment, gender discrimination, retaliation and higher ups failing to correct the hostile work environment in ECPD.
Former police officer Rebeca Fajardo filed the lawsuit June 20th.
The list runs long involving several police officers and the city's human resources director.
The lawsuit filed is against: City Of Centro, Human Resources director Terri Brownlee, chief of police Jima McGinley, ECPD executive commander Eddie Madueno, ECPD commander Jeff Mason, ECPD commander Mike Crankshaw, ECPD sergeant John Seamon, ECPD sergeant Robert Sawyer, ECPD sergeant, Mario Sanabrina.
According to court documents, Fajardo alleges that "beginning her first day on duty...she was subjected to constant and pervasive sexual comments that made her job unbearable"
"Miss Fajardo looks forward to proving the allegations in her complaint in federal court in San Diego," Andrew Ryan, attorney for Rebeca Fajardo said.
Documents also say that her supervisors would "belittle" her during training.
Officers would give her comments such as "Women shouldn't be cops, this is a man's world.", "women should be at home providing for the man."or "I will help you but what will you give me in return."
Other comments included, "You know you want me.", "I will strip for you anytime.", "You have a big a**", or "Who does she think she is? That's why women shouldn't be cops." or "You're clueless."
She alleges that officers would make comments "designed to sexually harass and discriminate".
Fajardo alleges the comments began to escalate into sexual propositions and was asked out on dates multiple times by supervisors.
Fajardo further alleges that all her complaints were dismissed by higher ups and an orchestrated retaliation by supervisors soon followed.
"The city cannot give any substantive comment at this time its not only a pending litigation but it also involves confidential personnel matters," Kris Becker, city attorney said.
Court records state Fajardo was terminated for allegedly "mishandling calls" along with "willfully failure to provide information"
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