Bias in Marin County offices? Employees of 2 minds

Marin County officials vehemently deny charges of a hostile workplace in county offices, although an internal memo obtained by the Jewish Bulletin appears to support allegations of a such an environment.

One high-ranking Jewish member of the county's probation department has denied the charges of two men who say bias is rife there.

Lonnie Morris, a 14-year veteran probation officer, and Wilfred Broom, who left the department, filed the civil suit Aug. 10 in Marin County Superior Court. Their complaint alleges that biases have been allowed to run unchecked against Jews, African- and Asian-Americans, Latinos and gays, resulting in "a hostile, intimidating, abusive and offensive working environment."

But Steve Shapiro, who has worked for the department "on and off for about 10 years," said he has witnessed no bias-related verbal abuse.

"I am Jewish, and I have been promoted," said Shapiro, who is a level 3 deputy probation officer, which is the second highest level in the four-tier system. "There is a Jewish supervisor and a Jewish assistant supervisor. I can tell you without the shred of a doubt there is no discrimination in this department."

Laura Susman Armor, the director of human resources for the County of Marin, said anti-discrimination policies are enforced vigorously.

"Indeed, the county thoroughly investigated each claim made by these two employees and found no evidence of discrimination of any kind," she said in a prepared statement.

But Morris, who has been trying without success to reach level 3, said the county's investigator focused solely on promotional practices, not the question of a hostile workplace; it also did not question those deputies who could speak to that issue.

The Marin County Personnel Commission heard Morris' appeal and concluded that "the probation department's process failed to use uniform criteria and was neither properly documented nor objective," according to chairman James Evans.

In a Oct. 7 memo to division director Bill Pryor that contained a typed but unsigned signature, another supervisor referred to tensions that arose when one deputy applauded the shootings at the North Valley Jewish Community Center.

Probation officer Judy Reinstein had said earlier she was stunned to hear anti-Semitic comments the day a gunman opened fire on children at the Los Angeles-area center.

According to the memo, the deputy made a comment "within the hearing of Judy and Shana Reznek to the effect there would be less Jews to deal with now."

Pryor responded by firing off a memo of his own on Oct. 21, which cited the county's policy on maintaining "a work environment that is free of harassment." He added: "If we can keep our focus in this area we still can find room for humor and give-and-take. We do not want our offices to become sterile, rigid places where people are afraid to be themselves. We also must remain aware that things we say or do, even in all innocence, can be distressing or hurtful to others."

The memo infuriated employees who insisted the comment following the North Valley JCC was neither humorous nor intended to be.

According to minority employees, supervisors in a recent meeting encouraged them to "be more tolerant" of jokes or comments they consider crude or discriminatory.

"They told us to develop a thicker skin," Morris said.

Shapiro acknowledged the comments made in the wake of the JCC shootings but said "this was just an insensitive, stupid remark that was meant to be funny."

Morris' lawsuit alleges "the liberal and frequent use of racist, offensive, and sexist words towards African-Americans, Jews, women, Asians and Mexicans ... continues up to and including the present."

The lawsuit charges that Morris, Broom and Reinstein were pressured about their loyalty when they supported probation officer Luis Shedrick in his 1996 discrimination suit against the department. The department settled the suit with Shedrick for $155,000.

Sausalito lawyer Charles Bonner, who is representing Morris and Broom, said the harassment is tolerated by "a powerful minority of people in positions of authority."

Bonner allowed that the county policy is progressive but said there are no adequate measures in place to enforce it or to chart progress in a troubled department.

Said Morris, "Maybe we can't break the wall down all at once, but we can sure chip the hell out of it."