WHY DID SEXUAL HARASSMENT SUITS TAKE FOUR MONTHS TO ANNOUNCE?
By Steven Tavares
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| CITIZEN INSIDER |
By most accounts, the hiring of Sandra Spagnoli as the first female police chief in San Leandro history is not the token hire some believe it to be. While a riveting and sometimes revolting slew of sexual harassment suits against the department definitely hardened the city’s resolve to put the incidents behind it, the hiring of a woman to lead the department is smart decision in the realm of public relations, but she appears more than qualified to make the leap from smaller force in Benicia to San Leandro.
Spagnoli sits on the appointed California Police Officers Standards and Training (POST) Advisory Committee and first vice president for the California Peace Officers Association.
San Leandro Police Officers Association President Sgt. Mike Sobek says the department is “cautiously optimistic” of their new chief. Spagnoli is only the second chief hired from outside the department in the city’s history. The other made the short leap from Oakland and most of the longest-serving officers are never worked with an unknown quantity during their tenure.
“We now have a clear plan for the future,” said Sobek, who believes Spagnoli’s youth and potential stability will help the department over the next few years. Spagnoli is 43.
One of Spagnoli’s first tests on the job when she takes command Jan. 10 will be quelling discontent by some senior officers who were passed over in favor of her. The POA is making the first gesture to their new leader by inviting her to the union’s Christmas party.
Word arrived this week to the resolution of one of the worst periods in the history of the San Leandro Police Department when a reporter inquired about the last three of seven sexual harassment suits filed against the city by female members of the police department. The last two suits were settled adding an additional $270,000 in costs to the city. The seventh suit was dismissed by a federal judge.The total loss to the city: $675,000. When were the suits settled? July (!).
Why did it take over four months to notify the public? San Leandro City Attorney Jayne Williams told The Citizen Monday that the Brown Act allowed for the resolution of closed session settlements not to be publicly announced unless they were inquired by the press or public. When the first four settlements were reached earlier this year, news of the deal was announced during a city council meeting along with the names of the plaintiffs and their monetary rewards. This time around, the city found no news was good news, that is, until the arrive of Spagnoli brought the story back to the forefront. It is no secret the city wanted this story to go away and they succeeded for awhile.
San Leandro Mayor-elect Stephen Cassidy announced a rather large transition team this week, but the question of whether his controversial campaign promise for pension reform was only rhetoric remains to be seen. One indication he is serious is Cassidy has yet to contact the San Leandro Police Officers Association. The issue could be a landmine for Cassidy. Backtrack and alienate a core pillar of his campaign or risk paralysis by playing hardball with the police officers and other city employee unions in the next two years.
ebcitizen.com 
As long as that pussy ass punk Jeff Jouanicot has nothing to do with the department anymore they will be fine. When his current wif Shirley finds out about all of the stuff Overton Mcmanus and the boys really do when they go on their motorbike trips maybe then we will see a change. Bottom line, Jeff Jouanicot is a cancer and a slime ball punk and he is a pussy who can talk shit but is afraid of his shadow. He made the best of a very sad part of the departments history to make a name for himself on an open and shut easy case where the suspect was given up by the guys pastor, catching the eye of Tom Orloff. Or is that “Mr. Orloff Jeff”? Bottom line you punk you aint shit but a punk that attemmpted to put fear in people but you know what? You never put fear in me you Bald headed punk. YOU KNOW WHO THIS IS
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The first candidate who will stand for election with a platform that says city employees must live in the city may well win. It is ludicrous that six figure salaried city employees live outside of the city.
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Did anyone catch in the San Leandro Times that she wouldn't divulge where she lives? Her husband is a Lieutenant in the San Jose Police Department and that they live nearby. Can anyone say; San Ramon? Pleasanton? Danville? But since she'll be milking San Leandro taxpayers for $175,000 a year and I bet her husband is milking San Jose for at least $125,000 that's $300,000 a year I bet it's more like Blackhawk or Ruby Hill.
Then that @$$hole Hollister has the nerve to say that “San Leandro doesn't have a housing allowance” STFU you parasite whore, your “housing allowance” is your pay just like everyone else's pay.
Manuel
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Excuse me babooze, where did Cassidy's name come up? The article is about the new Police Cheif who is the boss of the police department.
Manuel
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It is time for the strlong City Manager, weak Mayor to trim out the excess costs and balance the budget. Cut cut cut. Mel
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Cassidy isn't the boss, he is one of 7 council votes. San Leandro is a strong city manager, weak mayor charter city.
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Who gives a crap what the hired help thinks of their new boss?
Manuel
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