SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – AUGUST 4, 2015 – Gephardt Daily
The sexual harassment controversy which forced former Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank to resign earlier this summer has resulted in lawsuit filed on behalf of three women officers serving with the Salt Lake City Police Department.
The suit, filed in Third District Court Friday on behalf Robin Heiden, Melody Gray and Tiffany Commagere names former Salt Lake Police Chief Chris Burbank, former Salt Lake City Deputy Chief Rick Findlay, the Salt Lake City Police Department and the Salt Lake City Corporation.
In a joint statement released by the plaintiffs Friday afternoon, the women blasted the police department, the City of Salt Lake, and ex-Chief Burbank for failing to address the sexual harassment issue, saying their careers, professional reputations, and even their health had been impacted by the ongoing ordeal.
“We want the public to know we won’t sit idly by and allow ourselves to be harassed by a superior officer and subsequently mistreated by our employer. All of us were sexually harassed by the same man, yet he was allowed to retire with full benefits without discipline.
“We have questioned the treatment of this case from the start and whether justice has been met. Our case is proof, that despite it being 2015, sexual harassment is alive and well, and so is the system that provides more protections to perpetrators than victims. This seems to be particularly true in professions that are generally male dominated.”
“As mothers, peace officers and members of this community, we do not want our children, colleagues and friends to accept that they may be victimized because of their gender, that they should ignore this treatment for the sake of an organization, or that they should even fear reprisal. Nor do we want anyone to think that they can treat women or men with disrespect simply because it is tacitly accepted at all levels.
In the end, these are the reasons why we came forward and made our identities known – despite the likelihood that we would be criticized, ostracized, retaliated against, berated or otherwise demeaned. This is not political for us. It is about right and wrong. It became clear that no one was going to stand up for us, which is why we filed this lawsuit.”
The accusations of sexual harassment first began to surface in the late spring of 2015, despite having been lodged with the department two years earlier.
Among the allegations: charges that Deputy Chief Findlay had stolen photos from Melody Gray’s cellphone, showing her and fellow officer, Robin Heiden clad in bikinis.
Findlay was alleged to have shared at least one of the images with fellow officers over the course of the next couple years, and went so far as to tell others he and one of the women officers were involved in an intimate relationship.
The scandal erupted on June 11th, when Burbank was given a ultimatum by Mayor Ralph Becker to read a letter of apology in public, resign, or be fired.
Burbank stepped down the very same day.
In a hastily convened press conference just a few feet from police headquarters, Burbank called the move election year politicking.
“It’s election politics. It’s extremely unfortunate,” Burbank said. Fascinating that a year and a half ago this was brought up and resolved. And then, when a lawsuit becomes public or makes an accusation, it becomes an issue that we have not properly dealt with the situation.”
Burbank’s sudden departure created a firestorm of controversy, with many people voicing support for the popular police chief. Since the ex-chief’s ousting support for Mayor Becker’s re-election campaign has taken a serious hit. He now faces a serious challenge from former State House Representative Jackie Biskupski.
To read the lawsuit in its entirety, please click on the link below.
CaseSearchServlet
