San Diego’s highest-ranking female lifeguard is suing the city, alleging officials prevented her from competing for the department’s top position before awarding it to a man with fewer than five years of full-time experience.
Maureen Hodges, the department’s first and only female captain, claims she was excluded from the hiring process after former Chief James Gartland was fired in October over his handling of a sexual harassment complaint.
Hodges, a 20-year veteran of the lifeguard service, says she contacted acting Chief Dan Eddy about succeeding Gartland.
“Hodges performed well as the Captain, and when she asked interim Chief Eddy whether she would be considered to be promoted to Lifeguard Chief, Eddy replied: ‘I don’t see why not,’” the lawsuit states, according to the Times of San Diego.
Four days later, the city announced that it had selected Daniel Orloff, a former lifeguard who left the service in 2023 as a sergeant and later became a deputy city attorney.
Hodges, who is Marine Safety Captain of Strategic Operations, contends that Orloff was significantly less qualified for the position.
“Orloff had departed the Lifeguard Service in 2023, in the rank of Sergeant, and had been employed as a Deputy City Attorney for several years,” the lawsuit states.
“Orloff was a full-time lifeguard for less than five years. Hodges is more than qualified for promotion to lifeguard chief and is substantially more well qualified than Orloff.”
Hodges is seeking general and special damages and asking a judge to issue an injunction “requiring the City to better protect its employees from discrimination.”