Official’s Alleged Explicit Speech Investigated

A city water utility department manager is under investigation for allegedly making a sexually explicit speech last week during a potluck at City Hall West celebrating the impending marriage of an employee, city officials said Thursday.

Henry Pepper, who has been assistant general manager of the water utility for less than a year, will remain on the job while the city manager’s office and human resources department investigate the allegations.

A female employee who attended the gathering wrote an anonymous letter to several city officials this week complaining about the speech.

She alleges that Pepper displayed sadomasochistic items, including a whip, harness, chains and handcuffs as he shared some “words of wisdom” about getting married and how couples can maintain sexual interest in each other.

“All of these items were displayed and the comments regarding the use of these items, in front of everyone including two young girls,” the employee wrote. “This type of mentality, and outward display of it, is extremely offensive and totally unacceptable to women. It cannot be tolerated and will not be tolerated, especially [from] a senior manager of a city department.”

Pepper could not be reached for comment Thursday. City spokesman Bret Colson said Pepper “is innocent until proven otherwise.”

“We take this allegation very seriously,” Colson said. “It’s important to point out that the city of Anaheim has an aggressive and proactive sexual harassment training program that all employees are required to attend. This kind of behavior is not tolerated and will be dealt with in the appropriate manner once our investigation is complete.”