The city of Oakland, California, is proposing to pay nearly $1 million to the teenage daughter of a police dispatcher who says she was sexually abused by officers.
The teen, now 19, said Oakland Police officers exploited and victimised her while she was working as an under-age sex worker. Her allegations led to the abrupt resignation of former Police Chief Sean Whent last year and caused turmoil in several Bay Area police departments. The teen says she had sex with two dozen police officers, some of whom when she was younger than 18. Most of the officers worked in Oakland.
In a settlement to be considered by the Oakland city council next week, the Oakland city attorney is recommending a payment of $9,89,000 to settle the woman’s claims before she files a lawsuit.
Calls seeking comment from the Police Department and city attorney’s office were not immediately returned.
She sought $66 million
The teen’s initial claim sought $66 million from the city. Her attorney John Burris has said the proposed settlement is “fair and equitable” and he hopes the City Council approves it at its meeting on Tuesday.
“She has been through a lot,” he said.
Mr. Burris has said she still has claims pending against the cities of Livermore and Richmond and Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
Six former and current officers have been charged with crimes in Alameda County. A retired Oakland police captain pleaded no contest in Contra Costa County to soliciting prostitution.
The teen testified last week against former Oakland Officer Brian Bunton, who was ordered to stand trial on prostitution and obstruction charges.
Police Dept. roiled by charges
The woman’s allegation has roiled the Oakland Police Department, which cycled through three police chiefs in under two weeks before the city administrator took over the department when the scandal became public in June 2016.
The scandal surfaced after a federal judge who monitors the long-troubled department ordered internal affairs to look deeper into an officer’s suicide note in which he discussed his and colleagues’ relationship with the woman. The officer killed himself in September 2015.
The woman has said she is no longer a sex worker. She also said she traded sexual favours for tip-offs of prostitution stings and protection from arrest.
