Quantcast
MobileRJ | RSS Twitter Twitter FacebookFacebook E-mail Alerts
Home manage Las Vegas Review-Journal
  Jobs Cars Homes Shopping Travel Weddings Golf Best of Las Vegas Photo   Search:

RECENT EDITIONS
Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu

sponsored by
News
May. 14, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

CIVIL RIGHTS CASE: $480,000 settlement approved

Highway Patrol captain alleged harassment

By SEAN WHALEY
REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- A state panel approved without comment Tuesday a $480,000 payment to a Nevada Highway Patrol captain to settle a 2006 federal civil rights case alleging sexual harassment and misconduct by former officials.

The Board of Examiners, including Gov. Jim Gibbons, voted unanimously to approve the agreement with Capt. Jacquelyn Sandage to settle the lawsuit that alleged sexual harassment, hostile work environment and retaliation, among other claims.

Most Popular Stories
  • NORM: When live news shots turn bad
  • NORM: Terry Fator, wife ending marriage
  • NORM: Blaze breaks out during magic act
  • NORM: Jackson worked on album at Palms
  • Ex-Ensign aide details wife's affair
  • NORM: Jacksons set up LV memorial area
  • Ensign wrote lover a letter, saying their affair was a 'sin'
  • Coroner says sexual assault suspect killed by police was shot in back
  • Official: Fatal gunshot in back
  • LV area residential real estate sales reach record in June




    • Sandage, the first woman promoted to captain in the history of the Nevada Highway Patrol, filed her complaint in late 2006.

    The complaint was filed just months after the former chief of the Nevada Highway Patrol resigned and one of his majors was demoted, after the Department of Public Safety completed an investigation into allegations that they sexually harassed Sandage.

    Col. David Hosmer, 50, resigned, and Maj. Robert Wideman, 49, chief of the Northern Nevada command, was demoted.

    After the meeting, Gibbons said he directed his cabinet to review policies and ensure measures were in place to prevent sexual harassment in the state workforce soon after being sworn in as governor in January 2007.

    "I am very, very comfortable that we have undertaken the strongest possible effort to make sure that we've covered those bases," he said.

    Even a strong policy does not preclude the possibility that an employee may act inappropriately, however, Gibbons said.

    Newly appointed Department of Public Safety Director Jerry Hafen asked for the settlement to bring the matter to a close.

    A source familiar with the terms of the settlement said Sandage will retain her rank and continue her work with the Department of Public Safety in the director's office, focusing on special projects including homeland security.

    Reno attorney Mark Mausert, representing Sandage, said the settlement was a good decision by the state. A jury verdict could have cost substantially more, he said.

    "I think (Sandage) will produce very fine work and the state will benefit a great deal," he said. "She is one of the hardest working people I've ever seen. She has had a long productive career, not withstanding certain difficulties. The state is moving forward with addressing the problem. At least I hope they are."

    The complaint predates the current administration of the Public Safety Department and the Nevada Highway Patrol.

    In her complaint filed in November 2006, Sandage cited numerous examples of inappropriate comments made by Hosmer and others, and said the Department of Public Safety did nothing to correct the behavior.

    Newsvine Digg Fark Technorati reddit StumbleUpon del.icio.us Slashdot Propeller Mixx Furl Twitter MySpace Facebook Google Bookmarks Yahoo! Bookmarks Windows Live Favorites Ask MyStuff myAOL Favorites

    Leave Your Comment 9 Reader Comments
    Terms & Conditions
    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor.

    Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
    Current Word Count:

    Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

    gmarr1212@charter.net wrote on May 14, 2008 04:18 PM: sexual harassment is a slam dunk every time...glad she wanted her job back and didn't take us for the big one.


    Joan is Being Harassed wrote on May 14, 2008 03:08 PM: Joan:
    Exactly what damages did she suffer? Is she in counseling? Was she held back in her profession costing her hundreds of thousands of dollars in promotions?

    You ask about "the right to live unharassed." Nobody has the right to live their life completely unharassed. To live in a free society is to understand that toes get stepped on and feelings get hurt. Are their lines when harassment gets out of hand? Unquestionably. But the question which Delray posed was what in this case justified this woman getting 10 years worth of salary because the employees around her told jokes? It is a legitimate question and worthy of discussion. Unless you believe the free flow of ideas and challenging of assumptions is too harassing.


    freetospk wrote on May 14, 2008 02:48 PM: Kathy,
    You need to take your med's. How do you equate this story with what happened in Henderson? Are you that biased against Police? What did you do to have such feelings? Maybe YOU'VE been booked, or your kids have been incarcerated for you not being a decent parent. Most Cops serve well. Take a look in the mirror ...your probably the problem and have serious mental issues.


    Whateverusaydear wrote on May 14, 2008 11:36 AM: If my mother, wife, daughter, fiance or girlfriend were sexually harassed in order to keep their job, I wouldn't like it either.


    Joan wrote on May 14, 2008 07:32 AM: Dear Delray,
    Does the right to live unharassed mean anything to you?


    delray wrote on May 14, 2008 07:09 AM: why is she getting ten times her annual salary??????? she joins a male dominated job and she complains about the jokes... get outtttta here....


    NHP wrote on May 14, 2008 06:29 AM: Just don't know how the Gov beat the pre election "sexual assault/harrasment"? Oh, forgot, he didn't. He's finally being kicked to the curb. Too bad it took so long.


    rjC wrote on May 14, 2008 06:26 AM: She deserves even more. These clowns who run the show just don't get it. I would not be suprised if current DPS/NHP falls from something as stupid as this one day.(Seems most of the NHP higher has fallen hard in the past several years)


    Kathy wrote on May 14, 2008 05:13 AM: See. The internal workings of law enforcement is all messed up. This is only one of the many reasons that a Henderson cop was allowed to get away with the MURDER of a mother in front of her children.

    Nevada, is a filled with out of control police and corrupt judges.

    You have to wonder, just how many more law suits will it take before someone wakes up and see the problem and then puts a stop to the police abuse both internal and on the street.

    Nevada is truely a "Police State".