A gay Pacific Grove, California, police officer has filed a claim with the city after enduring what he says has been nearly 10 years of "discrimination, harassment and retaliation" by fellow officers, a former police chief and others. In a six-page claim filed in August, Sgt. Darrin Smolinski, who began working at the department in 1997, alleges he was repeatedly turned down for several promotions, including the positions of detective and commander.

"Smolinski's sexual orientation became a subject of jokes, ridicule and innuendos within 20 months of his initial employment and [the harassment is] continuing," according to the officer's claim. The claim - which alleges wrongdoing on the part of fellow officers and former police chief, Scott Miller, who is now a city councilman - seeks an undisclosed amount of money from the city.