San Diego Police Department Officer Stephanie Cockrell, flanked by her attorney Emilia Arutunian, has signaled her intention to take legal action against her employer, accusing the force of sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. Thirteen years into her law enforcement career, Cockrell finds herself in a tangle of internal investigations and public scrutiny. According to a statement Cockrell made, which was detailed by NBC 7 San Diego, she said, "I've fought alone. I kept my head down, and I was hoping this would go away, and it just keeps getting worse, and it just won't stop, and I just need it to stop."
The conflict appears to have escalated following an incident where Cockrell reported her husband, also an SDPD officer, was having an affair with a subordinate during her maternity leave. Arutunian, as reported by NBC 7 San Diego, stated that in response to Cockrell's report, "the investigation was inadequate, incomplete and rushed." Allegations of a sexual relationship between Cockrell and current Chief of Police Scott Wahl, which were labeled as unsubstantiated by Arutunian, only served to complicate the situation further. Rumors and inquiries about the nature of Wahl's involvement have only increased the strain on Cockrell, with the department refusing to comment directly on the pending lawsuit.
Additional accounts suggest Cockrell's ex-husband is fighting back through the court system. In documents obtained by NBC 7 San Diego, Tyler Cockrell alleged harassment and intrusion on his privacy, saying, "from the beginning of our separation, I have been harassed, monitored and attacked by Stephanie." Claims of illicit surveillance with hidden cameras and GPS trackers pepper his allegations, raising serious concerns about privacy violations. Tyler Cockrell has also called into question the department's handling of his reports, stating that his concerns were largely dismissed. The district attorney ultimately declined to file charges, and the judge in the case has yet to make a ruling on the request for a restraining order.
As Stephanie Cockrell prepares to legally contend with SDPD, her narrative weaves through past and present altercations, where allegations fly in opposing directions. Team 10 reports that previous accusations of misconduct against Cockrell include installing surveillance devices in her then-husband's home and being previously involved in legal action regarding an affair with a fellow officer. As the story unfolds, Cockrell maintains her stance, aiming to seek justice in the face of what she describes as a campaign intended to malign her character and profession. In the words shared by Team 10, "All I wanted to do was save my family, and now I’m being made out to be crazy."
