Glendale settles with female police lieutenant
A Glendale lieutenant will resign from the Police Department next year as part of a settlement with the city in a lawsuit in which she alleged gender discrimination and sexual harassment.
Glendale Police Lt. Susan Hayn, who oversees the Violent Crimes Bureau, agreed to leave the department on Dec. 30, 2013 and not test for the higher position of captain while she continues her work, according to the settlement. The city will also pay Hayn and her attorneys $150,000.
“The city did nothing improper with respect to Ms. Hayn,” City Atty. Mike Garcia said in an email. “This settlement not only avoids the cost and risk associated with trial, but provides other valuable consideration to the City.”
Calls and messages to Hayn’s attorney Carney Shegerian were not returned. Hayn also declined to comment.
In August 2010, Hayn, a 26-year police veteran, filed her lawsuit in which she claimed she was subjected to on-the-job retaliation, harassment and discrimination due to her gender.
Hayn claimed she was accused of having an affair with a co-worker, but the city alleged the tryst wasn’t a secret to some in the department, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court filings.
She also alleged former Police Chief Randy Adams made inappropriate statements after she talked with him about wanting a child, according to the lawsuit.
Hayn claimed in her lawsuit that she made 13 requests to transfer to other police assignments that were refused, while at the same time those made by her male counterparts were granted.
In court documents, Hayn alleged her treatment “revealed the severe and pervasive hostile work environment she experienced.”
“As she was one of very few women in the work force, the discriminatory conduct, comments and treatment by her co-workers and supervisors, and the dissemination of false rumors about her alleged affairs, contributed to a hostile work environment based on sex,” according to the summary judgment.
According to the summary judgment, the city denied Hayn’s allegations, citing a lack of evidence to support her claims.
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