Norwalk : Official Remains on Leave During Harassment Inquiry
The Norwalk social services director, who was accused of sexual harassment by a city employee, will remain on administrative leave until an investigation is completed, the city manager said Tuesday.
Jesse Luera has been on paid leave since a complaint was filed Oct. 5, City Manager Richard Powers said. An independent investigator is leading the inquiry.
Los Angeles labor attorney Linda Jenson is representing the employee, who was not identified. Jenson was unavailable for comment.
During Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Robert Arthur said the investigation “is not a judgment or an adverse action. It is a process to gather facts as required by law.”
This is the second time Luera has been placed on administrative leave. He was placed on a 30-day leave in 1983 after a city employee alleged that he made suggestive comments to her and was verbally abusive. The charges were later found to be unsubstantiated.
Luera, who also is a member of the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District board, was unavailable for comment.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
