Latest news with #GeneHarris
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Yahoo
New lawsuits accuse Pasadena Police chief of sexual harassment, misconduct
The Pasadena Police Department and Chief Gene Harris are drawing renewed scrutiny after two new lawsuits alleging sexual harassment and racism were announced Tuesday. Attorney Brad Gage announced the legal actions by Lt. Keith Gomez and Lt. Monica Cuellar, joining a handful of other officers who filed similar claims last year. The new suits contain allegations against Harris, who is Black, such as him using the N-word in a meeting and asking Cuellar about the genital size of a city attorney. They also allege several instances of sexual misconduct by Harris, including liaisons with a woman in his office, in which he installed a Murphy bed disguised as a cabinet. Furthermore, the PPD allegedly has deputy gangs similar to those believed to exist within the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. One of those gangs, the Veteranos, is only for officers who shot someone, Gage alleges. A city of Pasadena spokesperson declined to address specific claims when reached by KTLA's Kareen Wynter, instead issuing a statement confirming that the city received at least one lawsuit on Tuesday. 'The City is reviewing the claim,' the statement said. 'The City takes all allegations of misconduct seriously. The City will follow all proper procedures to process the claim with full information. The allegations will be addressed through the appropriate legal process, not through the media.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
06-02-2025
- CBS News
Pasadena police chief set to recognize heroic rescue efforts by officers during Eaton Fire
The Pasadena Police Department will recognize the heroic life-saving rescue efforts of its officers during the deadly Eaton Fire. Police Chief Gene Harris is set to release images and body cam footage at a news conference on Thursday, of officers who "worked under extreme conditions to save numerous lives," the department said. The department wrote in a statement, the video will show the first-hand account of the split decisions officers had to make in order to help save residents. It has been almost a month since the Eaton and Palisades fires erupted in Southern California. The fires were fueled by "life-threatening" Santa Ana winds and extremely dry conditions, according to fire officials. The fires broke out on Jan. 7 within hours of each other and quickly caused widespread destruction in communities. Thousands of residents were under mandatory evacuation orders as flames inched closer to homes. Some residents were forced to flee without having enough time to grab essential items. The Eaton Fire became the second most destructive fire in California history after destroying 9,418 buildings. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed 29 deaths in relation to the fires. Seventeen of those individuals who died were found in the Eaton Fire zone.
