Police chief sues mayor for sending him sexually harassing content
Matthew Rezab
Globe Gazette, Mason City, Iowa
(TNS)
Mark Anderson, the police chief of Britt, has filed a lawsuit against the city of Britt and Mayor Ryan Arndorfer, accusing them of sending harassing messages, videos, and pictures that are sexual in nature.
On December 2, 2021, Anderson filed his initial complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Iowa Civil Rights Commission. The ICRC then sent out a letter granting the plaintiff the right to sue on February 21. On May 12, Anderson then started the lawsuit.
In his case, Anderson claims that after being hired in September 2017, he was included in a group chat with Mayor Arndorfer and former Councilman Chad Luecht, who resigned in April. The lawsuit was filed on May 12.
According to the petition, everyone involved is gay, and Anderson joined the group to get assistance during his divorce.
The petition also claims that at the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018, Luecht and Arndorfer started treating Anderson differently by sending inappropriate and sexual messages via Snapchat and the group chat.
Anderson voiced his displeasure with the communications, yet they continued unabated.
Austin and Anderson got married in September 2020. According to the lawsuit, Arndorfer threatened Anderson with legal action if she didn't give the couple's nude images, telling her, "We'd take Austin's nudes, but we'd rather have yours."
The mayor allegedly also recommended making a calendar featuring Austin in her underwear for the police department. The petition claims that Arndorfer also threatened to deprive the police department of resources if Anderson didn't deliver the disturbing pictures and that the mayor also threatened to make the contents of the group messages publicly known if Anderson didn't comply.
Anderson informed City Council Administrator Deb Sawyer about the group conversation and its inappropriate language on January 13, 2020. Sawyer reportedly requested that Arndorfer stop sending inappropriate Snapchat messages, but despite her orders, he allegedly continued after Luecht told him to stop.
On July 1, 2021, Arndorfer reportedly sent Anderson another explicit message. Anderson reportedly chose not to reply. Anderson received a pay boost of 1.5% later that month, while other departmental employees received raises of 6%.
According to the petition, Luecht attacked the police department and voiced doubt about Anderson's leadership skills at the council meeting on January 3, 2023. The role has been held by Anderson since October 2018.
In response to an inquiry, Madison Fielder-Carlson, Anderson's attorney, sent a statement highlighting Anderson's military and law enforcement experience and expressing hope that the case will result in significant change in the neighborhood, promoting knowledge of power dynamics and consent.
The lawsuit alleged two violations of the Iowa Civil Rights Act: one for retaliation and one for discrimination based on sex and sexual orientation.
Neither Councilman Luecht's contact information nor that of Mayor Arndorfer were immediately available for comment. No court or trial dates have been set as of yet.
