Redondo Beach Wants Mental Exam For Officer In Pregnancy Lawsuit

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Redondo Beach Police Department's first Black K-9 handler officer, who sued the city alleging she was wrongfully removed from patrol after getting pregnant in 2021, should be ordered to undergo a mental examination given that she claims emotional distress, the city's attorneys argue in new court papers.

Officer Daryn Glenn's Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit alleges gender and pregnancy discrimination, harassment, retaliation and failure to prevent harassment and discrimination. She is not suing for race discrimination.

Glenn has made her mental health an issue in the case to the extent that she seeks $2 million for her in pain and suffering and emotional distress damages, so a mental examination by an independent third party expert will help determine the extent to which her condition stems from her lawsuit allegations, the city's lawyers state in court papers filed Monday with Judge Malcolm Mackey seeking to compel the psychological evaluation.

The city's attorneys propose that the examination take place Nov. 20 with Beverly Hills psychologist Paula Bruce. A hearing on the motion is scheduled Nov. 9.

In the alternative, the city's lawyers state the judge should issue an order barring Glenn's attorneys from having any mental health experts testify regarding her alleged emotional distress during the trial, which is scheduled for March 25.

In earlier court papers, the city's lawyers called Glenn's lawsuit allegations "frivolous" and said her lawsuit should be dismissed.

Glenn, 29, was hired in 2017 and became the city's first Black K-9 handler in 2021, the suit states. Glenn became pregnant last October and told her supervisors, who that same day took her off her patrol assignment, according to the suit.

"Specifically, plaintiff was told by supervisor Lt. Cory King that it is department policy to remove female officers from patrol for safety reasons once they get pregnant," the suit filed in September 2022 states.

Glenn also was told that she was being taken off patrol because the department allegedly does not have maternity uniforms for pregnant officers, the suit states.

Glenn was reassigned to dispatch and remained there until going on maternity leave in June, the suit states.

When Glenn complained to her union president in November that the department was discriminating against her on the basis of her sex, gender, and pregnancy and that the transfer was not recommended or required by her doctor, he responded by saying " words to the effect of, `If you want to stay in canine unit, I can push you down the stairs or kick you in the stomach,' " the suit states.

Glenn reported the union president's alleged comment to King, who did not investigate and told the plaintiff to ignore the remark, the suit alleges.

Glenn further alleges the RBPD took away her patrol vehicle, forbade her from attending K-9 training and ordered her to turn over her dog in January 2022 so it could be sold.

Previously, a disabled male officer was allowed to continue working patrol and attend K-9 training with his dog and was never reassigned to a light duty position for alleged safety reasons, nor was his animal taken away, according to the suit.

Glenn's career has been damaged because she has been lost overtime and promotional opportunities, and the stress has impacted her health, her suit states.

City News Service