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WITH A TERMINATION letter on the table, Community Service Officers from left to right, Stacie Walls, Jona Scher, and Nicole Sahaj-Myers explain to the Mountain Democrat why they feel they have been unfairly let go from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department. Democrat photo by Krysten Kellum
The third of four female plaintiffs suing the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department on allegations of discrimination was served notice Thursday afternoon by the department.
Jona Scher, a community services officer with the department, was officially served notice of the Sheriff’s Department’s intent to terminate her employment days after it served fellow plaintiffs Tanya Hunt and Nicole Sahaj-Myers.
The notice, typed on letterhead bearing retired Sheriff Jeff Neves’ name, lists neglect of duty and conduct tending to bring the county service into disrepute as reasons for her termination.
But like Hunt and Sahaj-Myers, Scher is convinced she was served notice because of the pending lawsuit she filed in July.
“It’s definitely the reason,” she said.
The suit, filed with fellow CSOs Sahaj-Myers and Stacie Walls, alleges the existence of a “good ol’ boys” club within the department that targets single female employees deemed weak or vulnerable.
Deputy Hunt filed her own suit in June, also accusing the “good ol’ boys” club of discrimination.
Victims of the club, according to court documents, are subjected to sexual harassment and double standards.
“The department has people in-house that (administrators) know are doing wrong and they’re still here,” said Scher. “It’s just part of the boys’ club.”
Scher, Sahaj-Myers and Walls met with the Mountain Democrat Thursday afternoon, shortly after Scher was served notice.
“This just proves the department’s bullyism,” said Sahaj-Myers. “If they had a legitimate reason to fire us, they wouldn’t have waited a year to do it. It’s an intimidation factor.”
Walls, who has not been served notice of the department’s intent to terminate, said it’s only a matter of time before she too is fired.
“We’re trying to figure out what they’re going to come up with to get rid of me,” she quipped.
The timing of the firings — weeks before Sheriff-elect John D’Agostini is sworn in — is also politically motivated, according to the women.
“They’re trying to make him jump through as many hoops as possible,” said Scher. “The taxpayers should be highly disgusted.”
Scher pledged to continue her legal battle and said she would return to work if reinstated by the sheriff-elect.
“I loved my job,” she said.
Barring any change in decision, Scher’s final day will be Dec. 23.
Sheriff-elect D’Agostini would not discuss specifics of the women’s case but promised to evaluate all personnel matters when sworn in next month.
Sheriff Fred Kollar has declined to comment on the terminations, saying the department is legally prohibited from discussing personnel issues.
E-mail Jim Ratajczak at jratajczak@mtdemocrat.net or call 530-344-5071.
The Mountain Democrat does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy
SamireDecember 09, 2010 - 4:40 pm
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? This has got to be a sick joke.
so sick of thisDecember 09, 2010 - 5:05 pm
Kollar - karma really sucks.
Flapjack PeteDecember 09, 2010 - 5:21 pm
HHmmm Kollar cites \legal reasons\ why he can't discuss this??? Why turn to legalities NOW you Forked-Tongue clown??? You have violated many a persons/employees rights over and over. I will watch as you and your cast of clowns are marched into court to face the charges. Don't think FOR A SECOND you are above this. You disgust us!!!
Just Go away!December 09, 2010 - 6:23 pm
This is what happens when an appointed lame corrupt duck is allowed to have power he should NEVER EVER have been granted. He and the good ol' boys should be in custody now before more of these type of actions are seen. All hope they will face an INDICTMENT soon in federal court. Kollar also I hear forgot to tell the Board of Stupid-visors who appointed him he was living out of state in Reno, Nevada. Is he going to pay the gas money back? Wasn't a kick in the rear with a boot out of the county enough for him on Nov-2nd? He and the good ol' boys who were destroyed will retire in mass and try to hide from the law due to their padded obscene pensions and illegal actions. They are a gang of organized criminals and the entire county knows it. How much more will they cost us? Good Riddance! Hit the Road!
10-36December 09, 2010 - 7:48 pm
Has anybody been paying attention? This BS has gone on for years and no one in the Department will stop it! If the women complain it gets worse with most of the supervisiors ignoring or ading and abetting the harrassment. This ploy by the unelected "Sheriff" to fire the women who had the "balls" to stand up to him and the others like him in the department is but a small instance of the abuse of power that has gone on for YEARS......Why is the public just now actually seeing proof of it and not rumers?...Again the women in this suit had the "balls" to stand up say enough was enough after enduring years of this behavior (and there is a guarentee that these are not the only women who have put up with it, but didn't just roll over and "take it") and are still fighting the "good fight" after being served termination paperwork...Taxpayers of El Dorado County ask yourself this--- When Kollar is retired and living in Reno with his guarenteed retirement check....who will be paying the bills for his retalitory behavior and the "untimely" firing of these women? The complaints of harrassement and retaliation that were ignored? Yes that would be US!
James LonghoferDecember 09, 2010 - 8:24 pm
Who can challenge this? Board of Supervisors, District Attorney, California Attorney General? I'm not into county politics, so unsure who is legally their supervisor.
ED.MOMDecember 09, 2010 - 8:27 pm
A third one ? In a pending FEDERAL LAWSUIT?? OMG Someone please stop this man before he bankrupts the county! I don't know about anyone else, but it seems the SO is waving a big red flag over their head and saying "Yes we are guilty" but if we terminate them, maybe the elected Sheriff will reinstate them with only a small payout, Instead of a huge payout with a civil court hearing while the GOB's ride off into the sunset with those nice retirement checks. Distrubing to say the least!
SamireDecember 09, 2010 - 8:34 pm
County Council and HR (risk management). If you want the honest answer... They eat from the bottle that Fred feeds them. Ladies and gentlemen, the only thing for us taxpayers to do is start making phone calls to Fred and showing up at his front door asking for REASONS. We have the right do so, itis public property. He is a turd and he is giving us all the middle finger right now, because this will no longer be his problem the second he takes off his shiney collar brass.
Tom GibneyDecember 09, 2010 - 8:41 pm
If you grab the tiger by the tail, be prepared to deal with it's teeth... Is this aggogant or Idiotic..Oh I know hwat it is it's called a 'Scortched Earth Policy Amazingly stupid!
Tom GibneyDecember 09, 2010 - 8:42 pm
Note to self...do not write on blog after three Sierra Nevadas...spelling is typing is awful!
so sick of thisDecember 09, 2010 - 10:34 pm
I would be afraid to show up on that public property. The last lady who did that to see Neves was tased and arrested. Of course we could all jump on that and sue the county. I could use the money and when the county finally goes bankrupt, maybe then something will be done. (Not putting the lady down for suing, she was entitled to her settlement). What a bunch of idiots running the show at the EDSO.
samireDecember 10, 2010 - 9:37 am
Would anyone allow a boy at school to punch there daughter in the face and not do anything about it? NO... We are allowing it to happen to adult women who have put there very lives on the line to protect us and our families. I am enraged!
Mary Ellen SzperDecember 10, 2010 - 9:06 pm
The part of this that disgusts me is the use of ANONYMOUS posts to flame and allege. If a person has a factuated presentation to make, then do it in the light of day, not in the inkless oblivion of cyber cowardry and anonymity. Ignorant malice inflaming the ill informed. This disgusts me. tsk tsk tsk.
so sick of thisDecember 10, 2010 - 10:06 pm
Goody for you Mary Ellen. Corruption is disgusting. tsk tsk to you.
T. Yonkers goes Bonkers on El Dorado County BSDecember 11, 2010 - 12:34 am
QUESTION: IS FRED KOLLAR REALLY AS FRICKEN DUMB AS HE LOOKS, SOUNDS AND ACTS? ANSWER: YES KOLLAR NEEDS TO TAKE HIS ARROGANT BALD HEADED SOB ATTITUDE AND SHOVE IT UP HIS ______ THE SAME WAY HE HAS SHOVED IT UP THE ______ OF THE CITIZENS OF EDC. HE WILL NOT BE MISSED. SAY A PRAYER AND KEEP ONE EYE OPEN IF FRED KOLLAR IS YOUR NEIGHBOR.
ED.MOMDecember 11, 2010 - 7:23 am
Mary Ellen Honey..........really? In case you missed it and everything else going on in that department in prior posts (and this is all documented in the media- so NO flame and allege there!)- look what happens when you stand up to bullying, harrassment, discrimination, the unwanted sexual advances, etc etc and make the choice not to take it anymore (like these ladies) why you get- followed, your children questioned, death threats to you and yours etc etc etc.....and then the best thing---fired! So yes alot of us will go with the anonymous names.....it's just a small protection from the bully boys with badges....shame on you for encouraging and condoning the contiued behavior of these preditors by trying to give them new or continued victims........tsk tsk!
R.J. CarterDecember 11, 2010 - 9:28 am
MES sounds like just another one of those artsy-fartsy, wine sipping, pseudo-intellectual types supporting Therkelsen, Pierson, Kollar and all the rest of the Good Ol Boys and their reign of terror..Be safe, keep your names anonymous..Good news is;...The GOB's desperation and quest for revenge is leading to more and more mistakes on their part..With the constant influx of new and damaging info. against them, this upcoming month should be very interesting....tsk tsk
out of county law enforcementDecember 11, 2010 - 12:59 pm
This is clearly a pattern and practice of sexual harassment/discrimination that Kollar et al. believe they can smear on the county. These men are standard bully, arrogant types that corrupt the system of law enforcement. They pay themselves, they promote based on cronyism and like thinking, and they steal from the good work of the other men and women in the department. Does the County DA have the ethics to investigate? Probably this should be done by the federal courts who could prosecute Kollar and others for their misdeeds. I doubt that the long standing problem will be dealt with by the Board of Supervisors who seem to be happy to turn the other way. And what about the lives of the women who have been so mistreated...Sharia law in El Dorado County? D'Agostini will need everyone's support to shine the light of day on this and other internal problems. Can we trust the DA who supported his opponent to investigate? One can only have hope that ethics triumph.
truth530December 12, 2010 - 12:30 pm
EDSO is up to it's dirty games again. The good ol' boys club defense tactis has got to stop. They are really making themselves look the fool, causing the tax payers money. Tese ladies have clearly been harrassed, and this just goes to prove that they were. If they wanted to fire these ladies before, the sheriff's office would have done that. But no, they have to file a federal law suit in order to get fired. Looks like an extra charge of harrassment could be filed. Thanks jackass for making my tax dollars go to pay for your screw up.....again. Why not retire a week or two early, save some face and save my tax dollars going to your arrogance. I feel sorry for D'Agostini since he has to come in and clean up your mess. Are you doing this intentionally Kollar because your butt hurt that your boy Therkildsen did not get elected? Sure looks like it to me.
truth530December 12, 2010 - 12:35 pm
The good ol boys of the sheriff's department are responsible for so much corruption. Captain's wife embezzlement gets swept under the carpet, numerous acts of dishonesty, in appropriate relationships, hidden criminal acts amoung the boys club, and you have to "search" for reasons to terminate these ladies? Hum....looks like you are retaliating against them and harrassing them some more.
BillAugust 10, 2012 - 7:47 am
Scher said that she was harassed and accused of having affairs with officers. The truth is...she was having an affair with a married officer and had this officer moved into her house before her own divorce was even finalized. She said the tax payers should be highly disgusted and she is right. Why should we pay for her to try and get money from the county for her untrue claims!