Sandra Spagnoli became the first female police chief of Beverly Hills in 2016. Since then, she’s been nothing but trouble.
In the past three years, over 20 department employees have filed civil lawsuits or employment complaints against her, accusing Spagnoli of all types of professional misconduct, including making derogatory remarks about people’s religions, sexual orientations, and ethnicities, and denying them opportunities because of their identities.
This week, department employee Dona Norris was awarded $250,000 after a jury determined she had been the target of homophobic and racist abuse from Spagnoli.
It all started when the police chief learned Norris was a lesbian and responded by saying, “Ew! Gross!”
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Another time, she told Norris that if she wanted to attend the department holiday party, she would have to “dress Mexican.”
The jury also awarded $250,000 to Beverly Hills Police Lts. Michael Foxen and Shan Davis and $350,000 to Lt. Renato Moreno, who also suffered various forms of workplace abuse at the hands of Spagnoli, costing the city a grand total of $1.1 million.
And that’s just for one lawsuit.
In a separate case this week, the city settled an age discrimination lawsuit against Spagnoli brought by a retired forensic laboratory employee named Clark Fogg, agreeing to pay him $300,000.
“I think the city needs to wake up and smell the coffee, as they say,” attorney Brad Gage, who is representing a number of the nearly two dozen lawsuits brought against Spagnoli, said on Tuesday. “It needs to realize that there is a problem in the 90210 that needs to be corrected.”
At trial, Spagnoli, who insists she’s “not racist,” admitted to making several of the remarks people have accused her of, including expressing disgust towards LGBTQ people, but she claims none of it was meant to be offensive.
To which we only have one response: “Ew! Gross!”
Related: Cop who was fired for mocking gay teen’s suicide is rehired two months later
radiooutmike
None of it was meant to be offensive? It’s just a f*ckig joke, right?
How is this person still employed?
justgeo
make the bitch pay for it herself! WTF?????
Brian
That’s the only way cops will learn to be better. As long as the fines are paid by civilians, the cops will keep hiring and promoting bigots.
Heywood Jablowme
It’s a good thing Queerty included her photo. She doesn’t look like a lesbian at all. 🙂
CarrieV
Yup. This is precisely the kind of person that the police want in charge. I’m not being sarcastic either.
The reason she’s the first female Chief of Police there is because the menfolk had always been more racist, homophobic, and anti-Semitic, etc., than women, who couldn’t hold the job because women were always *slightly less* otherphobic until this gem.
I pray the States can stop regressing.
Jared MacBride
She seems to have been an inappropriate choice for the job.
Hdtex
She doesn’t look the least bit like a raging bull dyke…..
Man About Town
The New Beverly Hillbilly.
Cam
Hiring bigots should be expensive. Glad it’s costing them.
woodroad34
From my sources there, she isn’t well-liked–she manages up and is one of those people that ignores you if you say ‘hi’. I’m supposing because of the up-management she’s not fired outright, despite the rank and file’s displeasure. I’m also wondering if in the next round of contract talks, she’s politely told that they won’t renew hers. I’ve had an unpleasant experience with an arrogant, snippy little police sergeant there; I’m not sure if his personality is a result of Chief Spagnoli or not, but given that Beverly Hills shares a municipal border with West Hollywood–it’s a little embarrassing when they patrol that border during Pride (plus I’ve also heard tales by City Employees of the police offering “alternative” methods to arrest/ticketing for drunken jay walkers and other misdemeanors in that sort of porn film manner. Beverly Hills is a very liberal city and that kind of talk (especially with Mark Rosen in a city of Israeli and Persian jews) will definitely raise some eyebrows.
nitejonboy
Why is this stupid bitch still employed ??? FIRE THE FUKIN BITCH!!