City: Bisexual Officer Who Alleged Discrimination Previously Involved in Complaints

A bisexual LAPD officer, Officer Vincenzo Averaimo, has filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming discrimination, retaliation, and failure to prevent discrimination and retaliation based on his sexual orientation. In addition, Averaimo was a witness in two sexual harassment complaints in June 2019. One complaint involved a sergeant allegedly inappropriately touching a female, while the other involved an officer harassing an LAPD civilian employee about her weight.

The City Attorney’s Office has filed court papers seeking dismissal of Averaimo’s case, citing his pattern of behavior that raises doubts about his ability to engage with the public as expected of an LAPD officer. When Averaimo was demoted and transferred out of the Transit Services Division (TSD), he had six open complaints of varying severity on his record. There were also 16 complaints regarding his discourteous or disrespectful behavior towards the public.

The City Attorney’s Office further highlights an incident involving Averaimo as the primary suspect in a trespassing investigation by the Pasadena Police Department. According to the police report, Averaimo entered a woman’s home through an unlocked door and, when questioned by the resident, responded rudely before leaving. Although the police did not find probable cause to arrest Averaimo and considered it a misunderstanding, the City Attorney’s Office claims that Averaimo lied about the incident, initially attributing it to meeting someone from Tinder when, in reality, he had arranged to meet a man from Grindr.

Averaimo was ultimately suspended, demoted, and transferred due to his overall poor performance and behavior. The City Attorney’s Office states that an LAPD captain concluded that Averaimo displayed deceptive behavior, poor judgment, and an inability to make sound decisions. However, Averaimo’s lawsuit alleges that he faced increased scrutiny and harassment from his supervisors after his bisexuality became known to the LAPD command staff following the Pasadena incident.

In March 2020, Averaimo conducted a traffic stop and issued a citation to a speeding driver. However, he later learned that an anonymous complaint had been filed against him regarding the stop, leading to his removal from public contact and a reprimand from a sergeant. Averaimo met with the LAPD’s Employee Relations Group and raised concerns about discrimination and retaliation based on his sexual orientation. In July 2020, he received a negative work evaluation, the only unsatisfactory rating in his 14-year career as a police officer.

Averaimo’s lawsuit claims that the mistreatment by the LAPD has damaged his professional reputation, impacted his ability to work, and caused financial losses in terms of overtime pay, income, pension, and other benefits. It also states that his health has been adversely affected as a result. A hearing on the city’s motion to dismiss the case is scheduled for November 14.