San Gabriel Valley : DISCRIMINATION SUIT

A female police officer is suing the city of La Verne and Police Chief Ron Ingels, claiming discrimination and sexual harassment.

The lawsuit, filed by Senior Officer Barbara Wiggins in Pomona Superior Court last Friday, comes two months after an outside investigator hired by the city found no evidence of widespread harassment in the department.

Wiggins, one of four female officers on the La Verne force, is seeking a court order to bar discrimination. “This is about making this department a place woman can succeed,” said Wiggins’ attorney, Patricia D. Barrett.

The suit alleges that Ingels favors men over women and denied Wiggins assignments given to less-experienced male officers, let her be the subject of sexual comments and personally subjected her to two unwelcome kisses at social functions.

Ingels on Thursday denied doing anything improper. “The city had an exhaustive investigation into the allegations that found no wrongdoing,” Ingels said.