Mar 12, 2015 2 min read

California Borough settled a federal lawsuit brought by a woman who claimed she was sexually assaulted by a police officer who assisted her when she was intoxicated and locked out of her borough apartment.

The woman, who lived in the Washington area when she filed suit in 2013, alleged the incident occurred July 5, 2011. She said in court documents she encountered a police officer while locked out, and when he helped her enter the apartment, she staggered to the living room and collapsed on the floor. She said the officer, John J. Hackinson, fondled her and coerced her into performing a sex act. She reported the incident to the California Borough police department, and claimed she learned from the then-police chief, Jeffrey Gillen, that Hackinson had a pattern of this type of conduct.

The woman filed a summons in Washington County Court, but the case was moved to federal court. She claimed Hackinson violated her constitutional rights by abusing his position of authority. The borough assigned him to a desk job as officials investigated the matter, and he resigned from the police force in September 2011.

The woman noted the borough took no action against Hackinson. She withdrew from graduate-level courses, took an “incomplete” in a class and moved out of her apartment. She claimed she suffered both physical harm and emotional distress.

Both Hackinson and Gillen were dismissed this week as defendants in the suit.

Borough council’s minutes of the Jan. 8 meeting reflect that the plaintiff will receive $10,000 in exchange for signing a mutual release and entering into a settlement agreement. All members present concurred.

Attorneys for the woman and the borough did not return calls for comment; neither did California Mayor Walter Weld Jr. The federal court docket states that as of Monday, “This action has been resolved,” and the action was closed.