Lawsuit alleges hostile workplace, discrimination at Concord PD
CONCORD, CA (Feb. 21, 2024) — A civil lawsuit filed against the Police Department citing a hostile workplace environment and a failure to prevent discrimination is weaving its way through the court system.
The plaintiffs are Amy Hendricks, Beth Long, Harley Valadez and Kristen Krieger.
“The Concord Police Department is dominated by misogynistic men who are unwilling to allow these four eminently qualified women to grow and thrive,” David S. Ratner wrote in the amended complaint filed on Dec. 4, 2023.
“As a result, not only has the Concord Police department damaged the plaintiffs’ careers and damaged the plaintiffs emotionally and psychologically, but, more important, the Concord Police Department has damaged the citizens of Concord, California, by preventing extremely well-qualified officers to serve to the best of their ability,” the filing states.
While the plaintiffs are demanding a jury trial, mediation is a more likely path as Contra Costa County has mandatory Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
The plaintiffs seek damages against the department for alleged conduct by its officers related to retaliation, hostile work environment harassment, failure to prevent discrimination and harassment, gender discrimination and pregnancy discrimination.
Allegations in the complaint, which date back to 2014, suggest a double standard was taking place for what was afforded for male officers and denied to their female counterparts.
In an example from 2021, Hendricks, who says she was being forced into industrial disability retirement, said she was prevented from keeping her service weapon. The lawsuit claims it’s standard practice for retiring male officers.
Incidents related to Long and Valadez allege inequity on scoring of promotional exams and when pistol requalification could take place.
The lawsuit documents other forms of workplace misconduct, including an alleged derogatory term for unattractive women expressed in presence of other officers during a police briefing.
Concord Mayor Edi Birsan said he “fully expects a vigorous defense” but referred inquiries to the city attorney.
Public Information Officer Jennifer Ortega echoed Birsan. “The city isn’t free to publicly address the allegations at this point, as they pertain to ongoing litigation and to personnel issues and records.”
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office also is facing allegations of discrimination and retaliation against a female employee, according to a different lawsuit that was also originally filed in October.
David Scholz
David Scholz is back in journalism as a freelance writer and photographer after nearly two decades in education. Prior to moving into teaching in 2000, he worked as a full-time journalist since 1988 for rural community and small daily newspapers in Central Ohio and Northern Nevada, and later in California with The Business Journal in Fresno and dailies in the Bay Area, including The Oakland Tribune and The San Francisco Chronicle. More recently Scholz also worked in an editing, writing, and page layout role with the Rossmoor News.