3 Female Officers Sue Costa Mesa, Chief

Three female Costa Mesa police officers allege in a lawsuit filed Thursday against the city and police chief that they were harassed and intimidated by sexist jokes, lewd comments and fondling.

The suit, filed in Orange County Superior Court, also alleges that male officers asked about the plaintiffs’ sexual orientation, commented on their anatomy, asked them out on dates, used vulgar language in front of them and then retaliated against them when they complained to supervisors.

Chief David L. Snowden declined to comment, deferring to City Atty. Thomas Kathe. Kathe could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

The plaintiffs--Kathy Sothard, Nancy McAllister and June Ann Romine--also could not be reached.

According to their suit, during the showing of a training video one day about sexual harassment, male officers commented that the woman in the video deserved the treatment.

In another incident, Sothard alleges, another officer was on a burglary-alarm call with a male officer when she felt liquid hitting her head and arms. The female officer looked up and saw her partner urinating on her, the suit said. The male officer then laughed and said, “When are they going to hire some good-looking women?” according to the suit.

The suit also charges that the women were forced to watch pornographic films during training and that instructors would replay certain scenes for the class at the request of male students.

It also alleges that Sothard was hurt during a struggle with a suspect when the officer who was called to back her up never arrived, because he had met with his girlfriend to have sex. Sothard later retired because of her injuries, according to the suit.

It accuses the city of failing to have policies to respond to sexual harassment and discrimination complaints, failing to train supervisors to recognize and deal with such problems, and of ignoring such complaints from female employees.

It also accuses Snowden of knowing about discrimination and sexual harassment in the department and participating “in retaliation against female employees who complained.”

The suit asks for compensatory damages for lost past and future wages and benefits, general damages for emotional and mental distress, and for attorneys’ fees.

The Sheriff’s Department and former Assistant Sheriff Dennis LaDucer also are the targets of lawsuits brought by four women employees who claimed they were sexually harassed and intimidated during their tenure there.