Tulsa sheriff's employees get crash course on harassment and discrimination

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Employees with the Tulsa County Sheriff's department got a crash course on sexual harassment and discrimination laws after county commissioners approved an award to a female deputy who had sued for sexual harassment.

Wednesday's session included information defining sexual harassment, how to prevent it and supervisors' responses to complaints, officials said. The training also included what recourse victims have when harassment does occur and steps to take if they are harassed.

"We know there is some type of problem there because of the lawsuits, but regardless, but the training should and will be done," said Assistant Linda Greaves, who conducted the sessions at the request of the sheriff's office along with Chief Civil Assistant Dick Blakeley.

On Monday, Tulsa County commissioners decided to appeal a pregnancy discrimination suit that awarded a former Sheriff's Office secretary nearly $2.7 million dollars.

Commissioners also settled a sexual harassment suit with former female deputy Tawana K. Wiedeman in U.S. District Court for around $100,000.

Wiedeman's attorney Harry W. Champ declined comment.

According to court records, one week after starting work at the Sheriff's Office in August 1996, Wiedeman alleges she was harassed by an officer and that the harassment included calling her disparaging names such as "lazy bitch" and "troublemaker bitch."

According to the Sheriff's Office, Wiedeman was terminated in June of 1998. A reason was not given.

Sheriff Stanley Glanz denied Wiedeman's allegations and maintains that the office has a policy against sexual harassment, according to court records.

In another case, Jennifer Bates, a former secretary, was awarded nearly $2.7 million in October on the grounds of pregnancy discrimination. Bates was terminated about a month after she told her supervisor she was pregnant.

Although the Sheriff's Department does have a sexual harassment policy, Glanz said that the training Wednesday was presented to everyone in the office, not just supervisors.

Glanz said his department is probably the most integrated staff at the county and that his employees work under extreme conditions.

"We have guys who make light of very serious situations to get through them. There's a lot of trauma involved, and they make statements they shouldn't be making because it may offend someone," Glanz said.

"Everyone needs to realize they're all the same regardless of gender, and we need to treat each other with respect."