Sex Harassment at Police Dept. Alleged
Two women Long Beach police officers have sued the department, contending that the stress of persistent sexual harassment forced them to take disability leaves.
Lindsey Allison of Garden Grove, the first female officer in Long Beach’s police dog detail, and Melissa Clerkin of Long Beach, who was assigned to the patrol division, seek unspecified damages in their federal lawsuit against the city, Police Chief Lawrence Binkley and 18 other police officials.
Binkley declined to discuss the lawsuit, which was filed Friday, and lawyers in the Long Beach city attorney’s office could not be reached for comment.
Allison left on stress disability in September, 1988, the suit said. Clerkin left on stress disability in May, 1988, and was placed on permanent retirement in December, the lawsuit said.
Both women contend that they complained to superiors about harassment from their supervisors and other officers but nothing was done.
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