Jury clears police in harassment lawsuit

Alex Coolman

COSTA MESA -- A former officer lost her sexual harassment case against

the Costa Mesa Police Department on Wednesday when a jury concluded she

did not have enough evidence to back her allegations.

The lawsuit, brought by June Romine, alleged widespread sexual

harassment, including sexist slurs and fondling of female officers. The

jury, which deliberated for two hours, also rejected Romine’s claim that

she was fired because she filed a sexual harassment complaint.

The verdicts “indicate that our organization has been vindicated on any

charges of sexual harassment,” said Costa Mesa Police Lt. John

FitzPatrick, a spokesman for the department.

Romine’s attorney, Steven Pingel, called the verdict “a crushing blow” to

his client.

Romine was not available for comment.

Romine and two other female officers sued the department in 1997,

charging that they were exposed to a sexually hostile work environment

and seeking unspecified damages for lost wages, and emotional and mental

distress.

A judge broke the lawsuit into three distinct cases.

One of the women, Kathy Sothard, dropped her claim in March, citing the

financial and emotional costs involved in litigation.

The final outstanding lawsuit, brought by Nancy McAllister, is scheduled

for trial in October.

Romine was fired in 1997 after less than one year as a probationary

patrol officer.

Her termination, FitzPatrick said, was prompted by concerns about her

ability to perform the job skillfully and safely.

“That’s what this comes down to,” he said. “People become disgruntled and

can’t accept responsibility for their own actions. They start pointing

the finger at somebody else.”

Pingel said he felt the jury’s reaction after the trial somewhat

validated Romine’s allegations.

“Several of them thought that there was some sexual harassment that went

on, but they thought Romine should have reported it sooner than she did,”

he said.

The outcome of the case, Pingel said, has not dissuaded him from pressing

forward with that of McAllister, whom he also represents.

FitzPatrick said he was confident the department would be cleared in that

trial as well.

“We’re going to continue to pursue that, and hopefully it will be the

same result,” he said.