A lesbian California police officer has won a $10 million harassment lawsuit against her former cop colleagues.
Ashley Cummins, a former-officer-turned-MMA-fighter, sued the National City Police Department for damages after she endured harassment and discrimination based on her gender and sexual orientation.
Jurors of the court agreed that Cummins had been singled out by several of the officers in her department, and that senior commanders did little to prevent the abuse, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.
The total damages included around $166,000 in lost wages, $1.4 million in future economic losses and $4.2 million each in past and future non-economic losses, the outlet reported.
‘We always believed our client was wronged and had viable legal claims for sexual harassment and discrimination,’ her attorneys said in a statement to the outlet.
‘Ultimately, we presented those legal claims to a jury to decide. We are grateful the jury found for our client on all accounts and awarded a just verdict.’
Cummins joined the force in August of 2018, after working for the St Louis County PD for eight years, and said the harassment began almost instantaneously.
‘The bullying and harassment were a result of the culture at NCPD that expected male officers to excel above female officers and expected female officers to be submissive to their male counterparts,’ the complaint obtained by The San Diego Union-Tribune stated.
Ashley Cummins, a former officer now turned MMA fighter, sued the National City Police Department for damages after she endured harassment and discrimination based on her gender and sexual orientation
Cummins joined the force in August of 2018, after working for the St Louis County PD for eight years, and said the harassment began almost instantaneously
The total $10 million in damages included around $166,000 in lost wages, $1.4 million in future economic losses and $4.2 million each in past and future non-economic losses
‘In fact, many of the male officers and supervisors indicated that if female officers wanted to fit in at NCPD, they either needed to be submissive to the male officers or sleep with them.’
Her attorney, Jeffrey Hogue, told the Star News: ‘Our hearts go out to her because this has really ruined her life. It has cost her a lot. She has been in so much pain and struggles for the last five years since 2020 when it started.’
Cummins claimed in the lawsuit that she had reported the behavior numerous times, but no action was ever taken.
The lawsuit further alleged that Cummins was not the first female officer to make a complaint.
The lawsuit said: ‘At least one sergeant at NCPD has responded to a female officer’s discrimination complaint by saying “I’ve had a female officer file a complaint about me before, don’t be that cop. If you do that, you’ll be just another female cop who plays [the female card] because she can’t handle National City.’
The sergeant added that things would only ‘get worse for you if you do that.’
In 2019, Cummins was asked ‘if she had any dirt’ on another female officer who filed a bullying and harassment claim, the complaint said.
‘As such, Ms. Cummins was discouraged and intimidated from making a formal report to Internal Affairs,’ the suit added.
‘Ashley feels vindicated, and is overcome with emotion,’ her attorneys said. ‘She has applied at many different police departments but hasn’t gotten a job because of the lawsuit’
Cummins’ attorney, Jeffrey Hogue, told the Star News: ‘Our hearts go out to her because this has really ruined her life. It has cost her a lot. She has been in so much pain and struggles for the last five years since 2020 when it started’
According to Cummins’ lawsuit, the discrimination and harassment involved being yelled at over the police radio and ordered to leave crime scenes.
Cummins was also passed over for a promotion to a K-9 assignment, and the male officer who was hired for the job was much less experienced than she was.
Cummins was also placed on leave after a shooting, despite not being involved, and after returning to work, ‘defendants made sure everyone stayed away from Ms. Cummins.’
‘Ashley feels vindicated, and is overcome with emotion,’ her attorneys told The San Diego Union-Tribune. ‘She has applied at many different police departments but hasn’t gotten a job because of the lawsuit.’
Cummins now is a mixed martial arts athlete living in Chula Vista, competing as Ashley ‘Smashley’ Cummins.
City Attorney Barry Schultz told NBC San Diego that ‘the city is extremely disappointed with the outcome and is currently reviewing all of the legal options, including a possible appeal.’
‘The city remains committed to ensuring a fair and inclusive workplace for all employees, and to continue to uphold the highest standards of professionalism within the police department,’ Schultz added.
‘Notwithstanding the city’s disappointment, the city and the police department will carefully assess the verdict and determine what lessons can be learned.’
