Fired Officer's Lawsuit Accuses Richmond Police Chief Of Sexual Harassment
RICHMOND (CBS SF) -- A fired Richmond officer has filed a lawsuit claiming the city's police chief sexually harassed him.
Thomas Hauschild, claims he was wrongfully terminated in 2013 over charges of domestic battery and illegal guns. The 44-year-old had been a police officer for 8 years.
The lawsuit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, claims Chief Chris Magnus ran a biased investigation after Hauschild complained the chief made a sexual advance toward him.
The lawsuit details an incident that occurred when Hauschild was guarding the chief's home. Magnus, who is openly gay, allegedly approached him dressed in "very short cut-off jeans" and touched the officer inappropriately "rubbing him on his upper leg, in an obvious sexual manner."
After Hauschild complained, the suit claims department officials retaliated by cutting his overtime and denying him promotions.
The former officer was placed on administrative leave and subsequently fired in December 2013.
On Saturday, Magnus told the San Francisco Chronicle the lawsuit is "retaliatory." He called the allegations "a new low," and said he "will continue to take conduct involving domestic violence and weapons issues seriously, regardless of this desperate attempt to intimidate me and shake down the city."