Lawsuit accuses San Sebastián mayor, municipality of harassment and retaliation against municipal police officers
By THE STAR STAFF
A lawsuit filed in Aguadilla Superior Court accuses the Municipality of San Sebastián and Mayor Eladio J. Cardona Quiles of engaging in or allowing a pattern of discrimination, workplace harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination and civil rights violations against three members of the municipal police force.
The complaint, filed Oct. 12, seeks at least $748,000 in damages and alleges that municipal officials failed to address repeated reports of misconduct and labor-related grievances raised by the officers.
The plaintiffs, Carlos José Soto Rodríguez, José F. Valentín Ruiz and William F. González Ríos, contend that they were subjected to a sustained pattern of workplace persecution by supervisors and that municipal authorities did not take corrective action despite being notified of the alleged conduct.
According to the lawsuit, Soto Rodríguez alleges he was discriminated against because of his sexual orientation and subjected to offensive remarks and unequal treatment regarding the assignment of official vehicles and overtime opportunities. The complaint states that after filing a formal grievance in July 2025, he was temporarily removed from his duties for two months, lost accumulated compensatory time and later had his official motorcycle reassigned.
Valentín Ruiz, a former sergeant, claims he was dismissed for political reasons and in retaliation for reporting alleged misconduct by superiors. The lawsuit identifies him as a member of the New Progressive Party and an associate of party leader Bryan Esteves. He alleges that his employment ended shortly after Esteves was elected municipal president of the party organization, and that officials used the expiration of his contract as a pretext for terminating his employment.
Meanwhile, González Ríos, who has nearly 28 years of service, alleges the municipality failed to honor reasonable accommodations that had been granted since 2011 for medical conditions and religious beliefs. According to the complaint, he was repeatedly assigned schedules that conflicted with those accommodations and required to perform duties under direct sunlight despite medical restrictions. He also alleges that he was passed over for promotion opportunities in favor of officers with less seniority.
A key allegation in the lawsuit is that Cardona Quiles, the mayor, was aware of the officers’ complaints but failed to intervene effectively to stop the alleged misconduct. The plaintiffs hold both the mayor and the municipality responsible for allowing the alleged practices to continue.
In addition to monetary damages for emotional distress, physical harm, lost wages and alleged civil rights violations, the lawsuit seeks the reinstatement of Valentín Ruiz, enforcement of reasonable accommodations for González Ríos and measures aimed at preventing future retaliation.
The allegations remain unproven, and no court determination has been made regarding liability. The claims will be evaluated through the judicial process, and the municipality and mayor will have an opportunity to respond to the complaint in court.
