Gay police officer sues California city, claims colleagues put rotting food in his belongings and more

A police sergeant in Oceanside, Calif., has sued the city, claiming he suffered discrimination and harassment after fellow officers found out he was gay, plus retaliation when he reported it, and that the police department and other city officials did nothing to stop the mistreatment.

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Sgt. Tyler Peppard filed the suit November 22 in California Superior Court for San Diego County. The California Civil Rights Department issued him a right-to-sue letter June 11, according to the suit, as anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination is illegal under state law. The son of a police officer, he was hired in 2016 and was not always out at work, but his partner outed him about six months into his tenure.

“After being outed, Sgt. Peppard noticed an instant shift in the attitudes of some of his colleagues and management,” the suit states.

He was called in to a meeting August 30, 2017, with his direct supervisor, Sgt. Jeffrey Brandt, and Field Training Officer Matt Byrd. “During the conversation, Sgt. Peppard distinctly remembers Sgt. Brandt’s words: ‘Your lifestyle choices do not add up to the values of our police department,’” the suit reads. “’Your dad is probably disappointed and embarrassed. He probably would prefer you turn in your badge and gun. You need more life experiences since you have only lived at your parents’ house, although your mom did just have your brother which is piss poor planning if you ask me.’ When Sgt. Peppard responded, questioning why his mother’s pregnancy was brought into a discussion about performance and what “life choices” meant exactly, FTO Byrd interrupted: ‘Shut the fuck up. This is not your time to talk.” At that point, Sgt. Peppard knew that at least some of his colleagues and management now had a problem with him because of his sexual orientation.”

After the meeting, Peppard, who had received high ratings on his performance, started receiving low ones, and his superiors recommended that he be fired. However, his father intervened, and Peppard remained with the department and moved to a different unit, where he received good performance ratings again. But his supervisors changed in late 2023, and the harassment started.

Colleagues put rotting food in his equipment bag and removed ammunition from his weapons, he alleges. He was afraid to eat anything that had been out of his sight even briefly, as he feared his coworkers had tampered with the food.

He had risen to the status of probationary sergeant, but his probationary term was extended beyond the customary 180 days, affecting his wages and benefits. He also was placed on probation overall for alleged performance issues; he said reports of these issues were false.

“It was clear that management (who largely identify as the same Baptist religion) had a problem with Sgt. Peppard and had rekindled their vendetta against him as the only openly gay man in the department,” the suit states. “In short, his ‘lifestyle’ choices were a problem for them." After he reported the harassment, his supervisors told him he was untrustworthy and a liability to the department.

In October, a psychologist diagnosed Peppard with post-traumatic stress disorder and recommended intensive outpatient treatment, and in November Peppard took a leave of absence to undergo the treatment. “He continues to struggle with emotional distress as a result of his employment, including without limitation, stress, anxiety, fear, anger, feelings of isolation and oppression, depression, problems with relationships, and the development of an eating disorder,” according to the suit.

Peppard seeks general and compensatory damages, attorneys’ fees, and “such other and further relief as the Court deems proper and just under all the circumstances,” the suit says.

“I don’t know how I would feel if the person who I have to report to, the person in charge of my paycheck, in charge of my hours, basically in charge of my life, tells me that they believe my parents should be ashamed because of my sexuality. I mean, it’s heavy, very heavy,” Peppard’s lawyer, Dante Pride, told San Diego’s CBS affiliate KFMB.

Oceanside city officials have started an independent investigation into Peppard’s treatment. “The City takes these allegations seriously and has retained a law firm to conduct an independent investigation to review Sgt. Peppard’s allegations,” City Attorney John Mullen told the TV station via email. “The investigation is ongoing. The City will have no further comment until all witnesses have been interviewed, all relevant evidence examined, and the independent investigation is concluded.”