<\/p>\n
The Fresno Police Officers Association building in Fresno, seen on Sept. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n
David Taub<\/p>\n
The Fresno Bee<\/p>\n
A settlement in a sexual harassment lawsuit earlier this year involving the head of the Fresno Police Department union has now turned into a city investigation. The union is calling the investigation retaliation and election interference.<\/p>\n
Several sources confirmed to The Bee that the city of Fresno is investigating Sgt. Jeff La Blue, president of the Fresno Police Officers Association. The union confirmed that there is an ongoing investigation.<\/p>\n
The union and La Blue settled a sexual harassment lawsuit in March<\/a> with former office manager Anna Pine for an undisclosed sum. In a joint statement released at the time, the parties said the settlement \u201cshould not be construed as an admission of liability or wrongdoing by any party.\u201d<\/p>\n La Blue, who is assigned full-time to work for the union, remains on duty.<\/p>\n Pine sued FPOA and La Blue, alleging unwanted sexual advances and then retaliation for firing her after she rebuffed him. Her lawsuit, filed in 2025, asked for $1.95 million. Through her attorney Brian Whelan, she had no comment for this story.<\/p>\n Michael Rains, attorney for the union, said the city notified La Blue of the investigation on Aug. 18, four days after the union announced leadership elections in September. Rains questioned the timing of the investigation. The union filed a labor grievance with the city in July, over 1% raises not received.<\/p>\n \u201c The timing of this is transparent. There was no effort whatsoever to interview or investigate Mr. La Blue for these allegations at all for six months,\u201d Rains told The Bee.<\/p>\n Rains said it is \u201cdeafening silence\u201d that the city has waited until August, nearly six months after the parties settled the case. He said the city is trying to \u201cdiscredit\u201d La Blue in the eyes of members set to vote.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s completely retaliation,\u201d Rains said.<\/p>\n Rains said he plans to file an unfair labor complaint with the California Public Employment Relations Board.<\/p>\n La Blue sent a notice to his FPOA membership<\/a>, saying the \u201cthe timing (of the investigation) warrants attention.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe FPOA will cooperate with any legitimate process. It will not be deterred from aggressively representing its members or from carrying out the work it was elected to do,\u201d La Blue wrote.<\/p>\n The Fresno Police Department confirmed to The Bee that the City Attorney\u2019s Office is handling the investigation. They had no further comment \u201cas it is a personnel matter.\u201d<\/p>\n Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz declined comment on the investigation, and FPOA\u2019s retaliation accusations.<\/p>\n City denies retaliation<\/p>\n After this story first published, City Manager Georgeanne White denied the union\u2019s accusations.<\/p>\n \u201cIn no way is this investigation retaliatory, nor does it have anything to do with an upcoming FPOA election. The City is simply exercising its responsibility to investigate these types of personnel matters,\u201d White said in a statement to The Bee<\/a>.<\/p>\n White said the city launched its investigation in February, a month after Pine filed her lawsuit. The city denied the union\u2019s request to delay the investigation until after the civil suit would be settled. White said the investigation was \u201cprolonged\u201d after Pine\u2019s attorney \u201cdeclined to allow her to participate in an interview.\u201d<\/p>\n The investigation is expected to finish in 60 to 90 days, White said.<\/p>\n City of Fresno investigation<\/p>\n According to one of the sources, a complaint came into the police department on behalf of the victim or victims \u2014 it is unclear if there are more complainants beyond Pine \u2014 for incidents dating back to 2024. Rains said there are no other alleged victims. The police reported the incident to the City Attorney\u2019s Office, which is using a third-party investigator to examine the claims.<\/p>\n The victim or victims are union employees and not police officers, the source said.<\/p>\n The specifics of the allegations were not shared, but the source said they were \u201csexually-based\u201d in nature during off-duty hours. The alleged incident or incidents took place in 2024. There is no criminal investigation.<\/p>\n Multiple witnesses have been interviewed, as the investigation remains active. Consequences range from a reprimand to termination for La Blue.<\/p>\n The lawsuit said that La Blue and Pine participated in a sexting relationship from December 2023 to March 2024, adding there was a power imbalance as La Blue was the supervisor. Their relationship was never physical, the lawsuit said.<\/p>\n Pine also accused La Blue of using his foot to caress her leg in an unwanted manner. Another allegation was that the FPOA wired its office for continual audio and video recording.<\/p>\n The FPOA said it terminated Pine for cause and conduct issues.<\/p>\n The Bee\u2019s Thaddeus Miller contributed to this story.<\/p>\n This story was originally published September 1, 2026 at 11:16 AM.<\/p>\n Fresno Police and FPOA President Sgt. Jeff La Blue. FPOA FPOA settled sexual harassment lawsuit<\/p>\n