Ex-SDPD crime scene investigator sues again

A former San Diego Police Department crime scene investigator who successfully sued the city, saying she was discriminated against after a grisly crime scene triggered post-traumatic stress disorder, is suing the city again for alleged discrimination while she sought a different city job.

Rebecca Limon had worked for the city as a crime scene specialist since 2002. In October 2010 she worked at the scene of a brutal murder at San Diego City College.

Armando Perez had stabbed and strangled his 19-yearold estranged wife and carved an obscenity in her back in a City College bathroom. Perez was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In her previous federal lawsuit, Limon alleged that the experience caused her to suffer a severe panic attack at the scene, and she was later approved for medical leave.

She said in court documents that when she returned to work, her supervisors and co-workers “ostracized” her and “created such a hostile work environment bent on destroying any chance that (Limon) would be able to succeed in her position as a Crime Scene Specialist.”

Limon accused the city in her lawsuit of refusing to accommodate her condition or transfer her to a latent print examiner position, for which she says she was qualified.

The city settled with Limon in 2020 for $425,000. The settlement included an agreement that city would try to place Limon in a job for which she was qualified with a salary that was comparable to what she had in her previous position.

Limon’s more recent lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court, says she again sought the latent print examiner position, but city authorities made up false criteria for the job to prevent her from obtaining it.

She also alleges the city had her undergo a polygraph test, which contradicted the terms of the settlement agreement, and the polygraph examiner forced her to describe the 2010 City College murder scene.

Limon was told she failed the polygraph test and was denied a chance to retake the test, the complaint says. She alleges the settlement required the city to transfer her to a comparable position without going through the usual competitive hiring process.

The city did not respond to a request for a comment.