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By Robert Clark
March 23, 2015 (El Cajon)-- The headline in the San Diego Union-Tribune reads "Women's sex-harassment suit accuses El Cajon cop."
The story, however, is not about the sexual harassment suit just filed against Sergeant Richard Gonsalves of the El Cajon PD. (That suit is described in Miriam Raftery's ECM posting of March 10, 2015.) The U-T story was published on March 6, 2004, about a suit filed against El Cajon Sergeant Gary Ryno for sexual harassment by four current or former women employees of the Department. The suit also claimed that "Ryno conspicuously wore female undergarments to work . . ." As of today, I have been unable to determine the outcome of the suit, but will keep searching.
In another incident reported in the Los Angeles Times on May 22, 2007, former El Cajon police officer William Taylor was sentenced to five years in prison "for demanding sexual favors from women he had arrested."
Does it appear that the El Cajon PD has a culture (and history) of sexual harassment?
Gonsalves should have been fired (and not just demoted) as soon as officials of the Police Department and the City Manager's office became aware of the graphic nature of photos he allegedly sent to female officers.
The opinions in this editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org
Comments
Firing Would Help Relieve the Culture of Sexism at the El Cajon
I agree with the poster. Gonsalves should have been fired! As it is, he is still a potential liability for the City of El Cajon. Men, such as Gonsalves, do not stop their aberrant behavior because they were demoted. Psychologically, they cannot stop their behavior!