An El Cajon Police officer, already embroiled in a sexual harassment lawsuit against her department, plans to add fuel to the fire with a new claim. Officer Tina Greer claims she was sent a nude photo of a woman and lewd text messages. Greer claims her sergeant sent them.
According to a complaint filed with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, Sergeant Anthony Kolombatovic had sex with an unnamed woman who he snuck into the upstairs bathroom of Greer's house.
The sergeant later sent a picture of the naked woman to Greer's phone, according to the complaint, and what was described as a "crude" text regarding semen on one of Greer's towels. "You might want to wash that brown hand towel upstairs in the bathroom...I'm so sorry! Use bleach...hot water...maybe some radiation and ghost peppers too..."
The complaint says Greer protested the sergeant's conduct, commenting "that he was just like all the other guys at the El Cajon Police Department."
Greer claims she was denied a promotion in retaliation for confronting Kolombatovic.
“There seems to be some sort of a locker room mentality," said one of Greer's attorneys with the Gilleon Law Firm. Manuel Corrales called it a "male-dominated attitude" and said men it the department think they can do anything they want and it will be tolerated by the chain of command.
"I think it's reprehensible. I think it needs to be corrected, and I think she needs to be protected, and the officers who do these things to her need to be fired instead of just reassigned," said Corrales.
This new complaint will be added to Greer's sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit that stems from another alleged incident.
In 2005, Greer claimed another sergeant, Richard Gonsalves, texted her a picture of his penis, inviting Greer and her wife for a threesome.
The case was settled out of court, but when Greer returned to work after a long absence she claimed the harassment and retaliation continued. She filed a new lawsuit last year. It is still moving through the courts.
A spokesman for the El Cajon Police department declined comment but said an internal investigation is underway into Greer's latest claim.
Jim Lynch, Director of Administrative Services for the City of El Cajon, issued this statement:
"The City of El Cajon was only recently informed of the photograph, which was allegedly taken over a year ago at Officer Greer's home. The person who allegedly sent her the photo was apparently an invited guest and friend of Greer's. The City had no knowledge of the circumstances. The City takes any allegation of improprieties seriously and will conduct appropriate inquiries as necessary. Under no circumstances does the City or ECPD tolerate or ratify sexual harassment and retaliation. Such a statement is without merit."
