A former employee of Fresno’s police union has filed a lawsuit against union president Jeff La Blue for wrongful termination after rejecting numerous sexual advances.
La Blue and the Fresno Police Officers Association (FPOA) denied the allegations, saying they will take all necessary steps to defend themselves.
The big picture: Former FPOA employee Anna Pine claims in a lawsuit filed on Thursday that she was wrongfully terminated on Aug. 21, 2025, after four years of employment. She most recently served as the union’s Business Manager and Treasurer.
- According to the lawsuit, Pine claims La Blue retaliated against her for denying his sexual advances.
- The lawsuit also accuses La Blue of spreading false rumors accusing Pine of stealing money from the union.
Driving the news: In the lawsuit, Pine accused La Blue of making sexual advances toward her when she initiated a divorce from her husband. Those advances allegedly included a romantic and graphic sexting relationship from December 2023 to March 2024.
- “During that time, La Blue engaged in repeated sexualized communications and conduct toward [Pine], including explicit text messages, handwritten notes, verbal statements, and physical (but rejected) advances,” the lawsuit reads.
- Pine said she sought to reestablish professional boundaries and disengage from the sexualized dynamic, which led to La Blue’s demeanor toward her to change.
- The lawsuit detailed an incident in November 2024 when another FPOA staff member became visibly distraught and broke down in tears while describing what La Blue said about Pine.
- The staff member said La Blue said “he wanted to grab [Pine] by the neck and/or hair and slam her against a headboard because she was ‘so cute.’” Pine and the other staff member met with the union’s outside human resources consultant, leading La Blue to distance himself from the other staff member.
- Following that incident, La Blue and Pine were sitting next to each other during a retirement committee meeting. La Blue allegedly used his foot to caress Pine’s leg and then reacted negatively when rebuffed.
Go deeper: La Blue’s alleged hostility toward Pine increased when he hired another staff member, Rebecca Johnson. Pine accused Johnson in the lawsuit of engaging in demeaning, vulgar and overtly sexualized conduct toward officers and staff.
- Pine said she raised those concerns directly with La Blue, but La Blue rebuffed her and encouraged Johnson. She later accessed a workplace recording that captured a conversation between La Blue and Johnson on April 23, 2025, where La Blue made explicit, sex-based and degrading remarks about Pine.
- La Blue allegedly called Pine a “fucking bitch” and said her menstrual cycle is “a fucking nightmare,” adding that she “goes through these cycles.” The recording also captured La Blue saying words to the effect of “I am going to fire her for this,” referencing Pine pushing back against him and Johnson, according to the lawsuit.
- The lawsuit states that Pine was offered nearly $64,000 in severance when she was eventually terminated on the condition that she stayed quiet. La Blue then allegedly started to spread false rumors that Pine had stolen money from the FPOA when she refused to sign the severance agreement.
The other side: The FPOA issued a statement Thursday afternoon acknowledging the lawsuit.
- “Pine was an at-will employee and was terminated for cause following documented performance and conduct issues. The allegations in her lawsuit are contradicted by extensive documentation and are denied,” the FPOA said.
- The statement continued, “Following Pine’s termination, the FPOA has uncovered additional evidence that further supports the FPOA’s position and denial of Pine’s allegations. Based on the evidence identified and acquired after Pine’s termination, the FPOA and La Blue will take all necessary actions to defend themselves and vindicate their rights.
Pushback from Pine: Brian Whelan, Pine’s attorney, responded to FPOA’s denial Thursday afternoon.
- “We’ve received the FPOA’s statement on the lawsuit. The organization’s president is on tape blaming my client’s menstrual cycle, calling her a ‘f—ing bitch,’ and saying he was going to fire her for doing her job. Afterward, they lied about her to cover it up. That is not a misunderstanding — it is blatant retaliation and sex discrimination, and my client will be vindicated in court,” Whelan said in a statement.
City of Fresno weighs in: “While the City of Fresno is not named as a party in this action, we take these allegations very seriously, will follow all appropriate protocols regarding this on-going litigation and continue to monitor the situation with one of our labor representatives,” Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz said in a statement.
What we’re watching: Pine is seeking $1.95 million in damages to cover past and future lost wages, damage to reputation, past and future lost employee benefits, interest, diminished employability, other economic injury and emotional distress damages.
- She is requesting a trial by jury.
