Bias Against Women Deputies Denied

Sheriff Sherman Block on Friday denied that his department engages in harassment and discrimination against its women deputies.

“The tone of this lawsuit characterizes this organization as having an uncaring attitude toward its female employees,” Block said in response to a suit filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court by a woman deputy. “Nothing could be further from the truth.”

Block said the department has a written policy against harassment and procedures to ensure women’s advancement.

Sgt. Laura Beard, who filed the class-action suit on behalf of the 742 women deputies, alleged that the women were called names; not given the same field training as men and had slower career advancement. The suit also alleged that training films portrayed bare-breasted women.

Beard filed a complaint with the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing last year, but officials there found insufficient evidence to prove violations of law.