Ex-Police Officer Files Lawsuit Against City for Alleged Misconduct

Police officer with patrol car and flashing lights.

A former Long Beach police officer sues the city, alleging sexual harassment and wrongful termination in a case that sheds light on potential systemic issues within the department.

At a Glance

Ex-officer Alma Magana alleges sexual harassment by her supervisor, Sgt. Jason Lehman
Magana claims she was wrongfully terminated after reporting the harassment
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and access to personnel records
LBPD and City Attorney’s office have not commented on the active litigation

Allegations of Harassment and Retaliation

Former Long Beach police officer Alma Magana has filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging sexual harassment by her supervisor and subsequent wrongful termination. Magana, who began her law enforcement career in 2010 and joined the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) in 2014, claims that Sgt. Jason Lehman subjected her to unwanted sexual advances and retaliated when she rejected him.

According to the lawsuit, the alleged harassment began in 2020, with Lehman reportedly inquiring about Magana’s dating life and attempting to communicate with her outside of work. The situation escalated to the point where Magana felt compelled to block Lehman on social media due to his persistent advances.

Escalation and Reporting

The lawsuit alleges that Lehman’s behavior became increasingly inappropriate, forcing Magana to meet him at random locations to “talk about inappropriate and private topics with her.” After rejecting Lehman’s advances, Magana reportedly faced criticism about her work performance, with comments suggesting she needed to “step it up” and “be more proactive.”

“After diligently working for the LBPD for several years in an exemplary manner, the LBPD and Lehman began pre-textually targeting plaintiff on the basis of her sex/gender by engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct and after she complained, retaliated against her leading up to her termination of employment,” the suit states.

Magana claims she reported Lehman’s behavior to Lt. Robert Titus but alleges no action was taken against Lehman. Instead, she was reassigned to traffic duty, which is considered a less desirable position.

Alleged Retaliation and Termination

Following her complaint, Magana alleges that she became the target of retaliatory actions. The lawsuit claims that the LBPD used an incident where Magana was drugged and had off-duty interactions with police to launch retaliatory investigations against her.

“Both internal affairs investigations against plaintiff were pretextual and retaliatory,” the lawsuit states. These investigations ultimately led to Magana’s dismissal in October 2022, with the LBPD finding her insubordinate in a June 2022 investigation.

Magana’s legal team argues that these internal affairs investigations were used to justify her firing, stating, “LBPD recommended the Plaintiff’s employment be dismissed because of the two internal affairs cases one of which was not sustained.”

Seeking Justice and Accountability

Through this lawsuit, Magana is seeking “justice and vindication.” Her legal team is pursuing unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, as well as access to internal records of Lehman and Titus to support her allegations.

“The records requested are vital to the establishment of the allegations of the complaint in this matter that plaintiff was subjected to retaliation and termination for filing a sexual harassment claim against Lehman and that the LBPD, including Titus, had knowledge of and condoned the acts of sexual harassment being committed against peace officers of the LBPD, including plaintiff,” Magana’s lawyers state in their court papers.

The lawsuit includes claims of retaliation, sex discrimination, harassment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Magana alleges that she has suffered anxiety, embarrassment, humiliation, loss of self-esteem, and lost income since her termination.

Implications for LBPD

This case raises questions about the Long Beach Police Department’s handling of sexual harassment complaints and the protection of officers who report misconduct. The lawsuit’s allegations suggest potential systemic issues within the department that may require further scrutiny and reform.

As of now, the LBPD and City Attorney’s office have not commented on the active litigation. Defense attorneys deny Magana’s claims and assert that the city has immunity. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the department’s policies and practices regarding sexual harassment and internal investigations.