By Janis Mara
Times-Herald
VALLEJO, Calif. — A former Vallejo fire captain will receive a $5 million settlement in a case alleging that the city retaliated against her after she complained of gender discrimination by the city’s fire department.
A Solano County jury found on July 31 that the city of Vallejo retaliated against then-Fire Captain Melisse Leitzke after she complained of discrimination. The settlement was reached before the case proceeded to the damages phase, according to David Ratner of the Law Firm of Ratner Molineaux, Leitzke’s attorneys.
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Leitzke’s career with the department began in January 2000, followed by promotions to engineer and then, in 2016, to fire captain. She placed first in her captain examination, and was one of only three female fire captains in Vallejo history, Ratner said.
She received not only a promotion in 2016, but a Public Safety Hero of the Year award for Solano County in a ceremony held at the USA World Classic Events Center in December of that year.
The event officially recognized the exploits of the region’s brightest public safety heroes. Leitzke was selected for her leadership, knowledge and mentorship at the fire department, which included her work with the department’s Robin Mackbee Youth Academy, which provides life guidance and career exploration for at-risk youth.
Her certificate was personally delivered by U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-04).
“Captain Leitzke’s presence in the academy provides a positive role model for the young men and women,” Thompson said at the time. “We thank Captain Leitzke for her dedication to our community’s safety.”
However, her rise to the top was derailed after she complained in 2022 that the fire chief discriminated against her due to her gender, Leitzke alleged.
She was demoted in 2022 following an unsubstantiated complaint of intentional misconduct at a fire scene, and the city kept her on prolonged administrative leave in retaliation for the gender discrimination complaint she had filed internally in November 2022, according to her lawsuit, Leitzke v. City of Vallejo.
“This verdict confirms what Melisse has known for years, that the City of Vallejo retaliated against her for speaking out about gender discrimination,” Ratner said.
“We hope this result encourages other public employers to take complaints of discrimination seriously the first time they are raised and to take their obligation to prevent retaliation once an employee makes such a complaint seriously,” the attorney said.
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