Hispanic Kane County jail guard alleges discrimination, harassment

A Kane County sheriff's correctional officer has sued the department, arguing she was discriminated against after returning from a work injury in 2013 and harassed because she is a Hispanic woman.

Yolanda A. Rodriguez, a 16-year veteran, seeks unspecified damages and says she suffered post-traumatic effects from when she was attacked by five inmates in 2003.

Rodriguez's lawsuit seeks damages under the state's Human Rights Act and argues white, male correctional officers were treated differently than she was.

Sheriff's spokesman Lt. Pat Gengler said the office has not yet been served with the lawsuit and it's the department's policy not to comment on ongoing litigation. A message left for Sheriff Don Kramer was not returned.

Out of 279 employees at the department, 20 are women and seven are Hispanic, the lawsuit states.

The suit argues Rodriguez, a correctional officer since 1999, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and had never been disciplined during her career.

She was injured in May 2011 and in June 2013, according to the lawsuit, but a supervisor denied a doctor's request in December 2013 that she have a weight restriction for lifting and have no contact with inmates.

The lawsuit did not detail her injuries from the 2013 incident. A message left with attorney Brian Erwin was not returned.

The lawsuit argues five other officers "were afforded reasonable accommodations with their disabilities and that it is a widespread practice of (the Kane County sheriff's office) to look down on female employees," according to the lawsuit.

Rodriguez's lawsuit also outlines a pattern of harassment. It says she was not trained in the jail's new pod system, denied access to therapy, had her radio dispatches routinely ignored, and was not allowed to file grievances with the union.

"The discrimination has remained status quo during Mrs. Rodriguez current employment with KCSO," the lawsuit argues.

Both sides are due in court Oct. 29.