Chula Vista’s police chief, out on leave since late January, filed two claims against the city last week, alleging what her attorney said was a hostile work environment and a breach of her privacy.
News of tensions between Chief Roxana Kennedy and city officials broke weeks ago and her attorney alleged the city was trying to push her out. The claims potentially push the matter closer to court, as such filings can be a precursor to filing a lawsuit.
One of the claims alleges City Manager Tiffany Allen, with the approval of three council members, “began to make unsubstantiated accusations against Chief Kennedy for purposes of making her job so unpleasant that she would resign under pressure/duress before she was ready to retire voluntarily.” The claim does not identify which council members.
Kennedy has been the chief of police in Chula Vista since 2016 and is the longest-serving police chief in the region.
Kennedy’s claim alleges the pressure included “at least one retaliatory investigation,” which the chief learned of Feb. 24.
The second claim alleges that Allen “disclosed confidential personnel information and/or false information” about Kennedy to “at least one person who is not a current employee of the City of Chula Vista and is not entitled to receive the information.” Kennedy’s attorney, Cory Briggs, alleged that Allen had communicated with a former city staffer regarding Kennedy.
A city spokesperson confirmed last week that the city had received both claims. “The City denies the allegations and will address the complaints in the appropriate venue,” spokesperson John Cihomsky said.
Briggs said his client also recently filed a claim with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Rumblings of possible tensions between the chief and the city publicly surfaced in a Jan. 29 social media post by local news organization La Prensa indicating Kennedy was on administrative leave and would not return. Kennedy issued a statement saying she was on medical leave and planned to return to work.
Days later, her attorney sent the city a letter alleging the city was trying to replace Kennedy. The attorney also asked the city to preserve all evidence regarding “allegations of improper discipline, retaliation, discrimination and/or a hostile work environment.’
The city rejected those allegations and said the suggestion of a conspiracy to oust the chief was “entirely false.”
The conflict appears to trace back to an incident during the police union’s Dec. 13 holiday party. According to Briggs, there was a dance-off during a raffle, and an officer removed his shirt and swung it around. As the crowd cheered, Briggs said, the chief put two $1 bills in the officer’s pockets then bowed or curtsied. Briggs said he was told the moment elicited laughs.
Kennedy’s attorney has alleged the incident was being used as a pretext to possibly remove Kennedy.
Earlier this month, the city appointed Assistant Chief Dan Peak as acting chief.