A former California police sergeant has been awarded a substantial $1.7 million payout following a prolonged legal battle over a toxic workplace culture marred by sexual harassment and racist behaviour. Stacie Szatmari, who dedicated nearly two decades to the Fresno Police Department, alleged she was wrongfully terminated in 2022 after attempting to halt the inappropriate conduct of male colleagues, some of whom she directly supervised.
A Culture of Inappropriate Behaviour
The disturbing saga began shortly after Szatmari's promotion to sergeant of the K-9 and mounted patrol unit in September 2020. According to court documents, she was immediately introduced to what was described as operating under "Vegas rules," with the slogan "What happens in the K-9 field, stays in the K-9 field." This environment allegedly fostered a pattern of explicit and offensive communication.
Explicit Text Messages and Humiliation
On Thanksgiving Day 2020, a group text thread involving Szatmari and several officers descended into sexually explicit territory. Messages included a cartoon turkey with crude genital imagery accompanied by text stating "Oh yes! Stuff me! Stuff me real hard!" and other inappropriate references. The lawsuit details how Szatmari's own sister was repeatedly referenced in sexual jokes by department members, causing significant embarrassment and distress.
According to the legal filing, when Szatmari raised concerns about this behaviour, her supervisor allegedly told her that "the boys get to do what the boys get to do, no questions asked." This dismissive attitude reportedly allowed the harassment to intensify rather than cease.
Escalation and Retaliation
The situation worsened in December 2020 when Szatmari found herself as the only woman in an all-male briefing where officers discussed passing around a blow-up doll at a Christmas party. When she requested they stop the discussion, the conversation reportedly became more explicit until she was forced to leave the room.
In July 2021, officers who attended a K-9 training trip began sharing another series of offensive messages, this time containing homophobic and racist content. The thread included images mocking LGBTQ+ individuals, racial stereotypes, and sexually explicit material. According to the lawsuit, officers made sexual insinuations about acts Szatmari would perform, further contributing to the hostile work environment.
False Rumours and Termination
After Szatmari held a unit meeting in February 2021 to formally address the inappropriate behaviour, she faced retaliation. Officers allegedly began spreading false rumours portraying her as a "wild child" and "drunk college kid." Some even filed a false Internal Affairs complaint claiming she had exposed herself and danced while serving tea during a work trip.
Despite taking her complaints to Chief Paco Balderrama in August 2022, Szatmari was terminated in December of that year. She later stated, "I'm not part of the 'good old boys club' because I chose to keep my integrity. And here I am without a job. How fair is that?"
Legal Resolution and Impact
The years-long court battle concluded with the City of Fresno agreeing to pay the former sergeant $1.7 million, a settlement approved by the City Council during a closed-session meeting in November. Szatmari's attorney described the resolution as "amicably resolved," though the case highlighted systemic issues within the department.
The lawsuit detailed how the prolonged ordeal took a severe toll on Szatmari's mental health, resulting in panic attacks and anxiety. The settlement covers lost wages, medical expenses, attorney fees, and other damages that would have been determined at trial.
This case underscores the challenges faced by women in male-dominated professions and the consequences of workplace cultures that tolerate harassment and discrimination. The substantial settlement serves as a significant reminder of the legal and financial repercussions organisations face when failing to address toxic workplace behaviour adequately.
