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City to Pay $1.25M Settlement to Lesbian LAPD Cops Sexually Harassed On The Job
Photo by stevelyon/Flickr
A lawsuit filed against the Los Angeles Police Department on behalf of two lesbian officers has been settled before heading to trial, and today the L.A. City Council announced their approval of the $1.25 million payout to the plaintiffs.The suit, filed in 2011 by lesbian officers Linda Gotham and Lynn Whitey, claims LAPD Sgt. Randy Hoffmaster "exposed himself to them and made derogatory and sexually suggestive comments," according to court papers, reports City News Service.
Further, Hoffmaster threw paper clips at the women and called them "inappropriate names."
A second LAPD officer, Steve Markow, was named in the suit as having stuck his fingers into Whitey's ears.
The women had reportedly tried to put a stop to the lewd comments and gestures related to their sexual orientation, but their attorney says nothing was taken seriously until the officers filed their lawsuit.
Following an internal investigation by the LAPD, Hoffmaster ultimately resigned from the force.
City and LAPD officials have yet to comment about the settlement.
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