A 38-year-old chief probation officer from Alameda County, California, has been accused of sexual harassment. A lawsuit was filed against the male officer last week claiming that he had acted inappropriately in the workplace toward another employee.
The lawsuit, which was filed by a 30-year-old female deputy probation officer from Alameda County, claims that the male officer has a history of sexually harassing others in the workplace. The woman states that the chief probation officer sexually harassed her in 2011. But other claims have been filed against the officer by several other females who worked with him in different locations across the U.S. One claim was filed by a former co-worker in Washington, D.C., who says that she was sexually harassed back in 2009.
These claims have also prompted two other female employees to step forward with similar accusations against the chief officer of committing sexual harassment.
Since the deputy probation officer filed her official claim against the chief officer in February, the chief has been placed under paid administrative leave by the county Board of Supervisors. The claim is being investigated by the county as well as the California Attorney General’s Office.
The man’s supervisor has commented that the investigation of the accusations against the chief officer will be handled appropriately within the department. However, the supervisor also noted that the county was never aware of any concerning personal or professional issues that would have prevented the chief officer from being hired by the county in 2010.
The employee who filed the sexual harassment lawsuit last week is seeking damages for mental anguish and economic harm. She is currently on unpaid medical leave.
Source: KTVU.com, ” Suit alleges Alameda probation chief has history of harassment,” March 20, 2012