New SDPD Sexual Harassment Claim Surfaces

Woman claims SDPD supervisor offered to “make this all go away” if she had sex with him

A new allegation has surfaced in the widening scandal involving San Diego police officers accused of misconduct on the job.

The same week an officer appeared in court to face criminal charges and San Diego's police chief admitted his staff is investigating accusations involving another officer on staff, a woman has come forward alleging sexual harassment against the department.

In a declaration filed in U.S. District Court, a woman only identified by the initials "DB" claims she was sexually harassed by an SDPD supervisor in March of 2002.

According to the declaration, DB was pulled over in the Gaslamp Quarter for a traffic violation. She says the male officer first called a female officer to do a pat down. Then, he called a supervisor to bring a Breathalyzer.

The male supervisor arrived with a police trainee. DB took the Breathlzyer test and was handcuffed.

Then, she alleges the supervisor told her he needed to give her another pat down:

I told him that the female officer had already done that, and he said it was okay for him to pat me down again. He then instructed me to turn my back to him and he patted down my buttocks. His pat down felt inappropriate.

Read the full declaration here

According to the statement, the supervisor propositioned the woman while in the police car. DB claims he offered to “make this all go away” if she had sex with him.

She declined and was driven to Las Colinas.

The woman came forward as part of a current lawsuit involving “Jane Doe.” Jane Doe was a key witness in the case against former SDPD Officer Anthony Arevalos, who is serving an 8-year prison sentence for sex crimes committed while on the job.

“I believe that what happened to me is an example of how SDPD supervisors train younger officers about the power they have over others,” she said in the statement.

Former SDPD Officer Chris Hays resigned from the department after being charged with sexual battery and false imprisonment.

Timeline: Officer Chris Hays

On Wednesday, Chief William Lansdowne announced that another officer was being investigated for separate allegations of “touching and exposure.” 

Multiple police sources tell NBC 7 the officer that is the subject of this latest investigation is Donald Moncrief, a six-year veteran of the force, a former Marine and a member of the SDPD Honor Guard.

Lansdowne also announce department policy has been changed as a result of the most recent allegations. Effective immediately, two officers must accompany all female detainees or arrestees.

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