The Pasadena Police Department and Chief Gene Harris are drawing renewed scrutiny after two new lawsuits alleging sexual harassment and racism were announced Tuesday.
Attorney Brad Gage announced the legal actions by Lt. Keith Gomez and Lt. Monica Cuellar, joining a handful of other officers who filed similar claims last year.
The new suits contain allegations against Harris, who is Black, such as him using the N-word in a meeting and asking Cuellar about the genital size of a city attorney.
They also allege several instances of sexual misconduct by Harris, including liaisons with a woman in his office, in which he installed a Murphy bed disguised as a cabinet.
Furthermore, the PPD allegedly has deputy gangs similar to those believed to exist within the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
One of those gangs, the Veteranos, is only for officers who shot someone, Gage alleges.
A city of Pasadena spokesperson declined to address specific claims when reached by KTLA’s Kareen Wynter, instead issuing a statement confirming that the city received at least one lawsuit on Tuesday.
“The City is reviewing the claim,” the statement said. “The City takes all allegations of misconduct seriously. The City will follow all proper procedures to process the claim with full information. The allegations will be addressed through the appropriate legal process, not through the media.”
