Two female employees with the Washington County Sheriff's Department are suing members of the department, including the sheriff, regarding sexual harassment.
Sergeant Lori Schmidt and Corporal Stephanie Guenther filed a lawsuit Thursday against their former supervisor Randy Osburn as well as Major Rick Hoyt, Sheriff Tim Helder and the Washington County Sheriff's Department.
The issue began back in March when Schmidt filed a grievance with the Sheriff's Department against Osburn. An investigation was then launched.
The women say Osburn had a history of sexual harassment, including obtaining and circulating a private photo of Guenther's chest, making inappropriate comments about Schmidt's living conditions, talking about co-workers' breasts, holding wife swap nights at his home, talking about sexual preferences of co-workers and watching video tape of women prisoners being strip searched.
"I can't even explain the feelings I had, I couldn't stand to be in the room alone, I didn't know what he was going to do," said Guenther.
"Sexual harassment of any kind is not tolerated at the Washington County Sheriff's Office but on the other hand has to be proven before we can take action," said Helder.
The department determined the witness accounts were not enough to collaborate Schmidt's accusations, even though there are employee accounts, on record, confirming questionable acts and conversations.
Osburn left the department before the investigation was concluded. "The resignation came because of something else, not because of Lori Schmidt's complaints," said Helder.
In the months following the investigation Schmidt and Guenther felt like they were being retaliated against. "A lot of people are not speaking to me, I've kind of been ostracized, especially sergeants on up," said Schmidt. Both women also had their schedules changed to shifts that severely hampered their quality of life.
The women decided to file a lawsuit against Osburn, as well as Sheriff Tim Helder, Major Rick Hoyt and the Sheriff's Department. The lawsuit included Helder and Hoyt because they were ultimately in charge of the investigation and Osburn's conduct, which the plaintiffs feel, was covered up.
"To come out and say you're lying about something like this is very hurtful," said Schmidt.
"Why would we make up something up, we love our jobs, we love what we do, we plan to have a career here," said Guenther.
"We'll defend our actions vigorously I can promise you that," said Helder, who said pretty much everything in the lawsuit is a lie.
Guenther went on to say that this lawsuit is bigger than just them. "It's not just for us, everyone who works there, worked there before, and is going to work there after."
As for the other people named in the suit, Hoyt said he was saving his comments for court while we were unable to get in contact with Osburn.
Sergeant Lori Schmidt and Corporal Stephanie Guenther filed a lawsuit Thursday against their former supervisor Randy Osburn as well as Major Rick Hoyt, Sheriff Tim Helder and the Washington County Sheriff's Department.
The issue began back in March when Schmidt filed a grievance with the Sheriff's Department against Osburn. An investigation was then launched.
The women say Osburn had a history of sexual harassment, including obtaining and circulating a private photo of Guenther's chest, making inappropriate comments about Schmidt's living conditions, talking about co-workers' breasts, holding wife swap nights at his home, talking about sexual preferences of co-workers and watching video tape of women prisoners being strip searched.
"I can't even explain the feelings I had, I couldn't stand to be in the room alone, I didn't know what he was going to do," said Guenther.
"Sexual harassment of any kind is not tolerated at the Washington County Sheriff's Office but on the other hand has to be proven before we can take action," said Helder.
The department determined the witness accounts were not enough to collaborate Schmidt's accusations, even though there are employee accounts, on record, confirming questionable acts and conversations.
Osburn left the department before the investigation was concluded. "The resignation came because of something else, not because of Lori Schmidt's complaints," said Helder.
In the months following the investigation Schmidt and Guenther felt like they were being retaliated against. "A lot of people are not speaking to me, I've kind of been ostracized, especially sergeants on up," said Schmidt. Both women also had their schedules changed to shifts that severely hampered their quality of life.
The women decided to file a lawsuit against Osburn, as well as Sheriff Tim Helder, Major Rick Hoyt and the Sheriff's Department. The lawsuit included Helder and Hoyt because they were ultimately in charge of the investigation and Osburn's conduct, which the plaintiffs feel, was covered up.
"To come out and say you're lying about something like this is very hurtful," said Schmidt.
"Why would we make up something up, we love our jobs, we love what we do, we plan to have a career here," said Guenther.
"We'll defend our actions vigorously I can promise you that," said Helder, who said pretty much everything in the lawsuit is a lie.
Guenther went on to say that this lawsuit is bigger than just them. "It's not just for us, everyone who works there, worked there before, and is going to work there after."
As for the other people named in the suit, Hoyt said he was saving his comments for court while we were unable to get in contact with Osburn.
