HOUSTON – A state district lawsuit accuses the City of Pasadena and its police department of demoting an assistant chief for complaining about another employee’s sexually inappropriate behaviors and comments.
Susan Clifton initiated the litigation in the Harris County 127th District Court on Nov. 26, asserting that the defendants engaged in a retaliatory act after she pursued discrimination claims against Officer Steven Espinoza, the son of current Pasadena Chief of Police Al Espinoza.
In early 2017, Clifton conducted an internal investigation against the younger Espinoza for sexual harassment and determined that he was in violation of the department’s sexual harassment/misconduct policies. Steven Espinoza subsequently served a 3-day suspension in April 2017.
According to the original petition, Al Espinoza, who would eventually replace then-Chief Michael W. Thaler, informed Clifton in June 2017 that he decided to replace her with a male lieutenant. Al Espinoza purportedly opposed the investigation against his son.
A 30-year law enforcement veteran and the first and only assistant chief in the department’s history, Clifton faults the defendants for being “negative toward women.” She points out that the national average for women in the force is 12 percent while Pasadena is 6 percent.
“The discrimination and harsh treatment of females at the plaintiff’s place of employment is not new,” court papers say. “Women are taught to overlook and minimize the discrimination they face. This includes discrimination based on not acting like a ‘proper woman,’ whether perceived or real.”
Consequently, Clifton seeks unspecified monetary damages.
She is represented by Andrew E. Lemanski of the law firm Andrew E. Lemanski & Associates in Houston.
Harris County 127th District Court Case No. 2018-84235