MARCH 5, 1997

A San Francisco sheriff's deputy has filed a lawsuit charging that her male former supervisor sexually harassed her and routinely violated procedure by watching female prisoners being strip-searched.

Deputy Stephina Waldon, 32, charged Tuesday that the supervisor, Lt. Richard Bignardi, "from the beginning...was a pig" in his dealings with female deputies and jail inmates.

The lawsuit, filed against The City in San Francisco Superior Court by Waldon's attorney, Arnold Laub, seeks unspecified damages to compensate for the mental and physical suffering she says she suffered.

In her suit, Wladon claims Bignardi touched her inappropriately, often commented on her bra size and told sexual jokes in her presence.She further alleges that he routinely watched female prisoners as they were strip-searched and sometimes looked through a window opening onto a special cell where violent or dangerous prisoners were held naked. When challenged on these actions, she said, Bignardi said it was his job to observe the strip-searches.

Bignardi could not be reached for comment.

The intent of the suit is "to bring about a charge in the actions of the Sheriff's Department so people can work there safely and without harassment, Laub said.

Waldon, who worked the midnight watch at County Jail No. 1, said the harassment had begun in late 1994 and continued through February 1996.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Eileen Hirst said the department had immediately transferred Bignardi when Waldon complained about him.

Following an investigation into Bignardi's behavior, which brought other complaints to light, the lieutenant was given a termination notice but resigned before his termination hearing could be held, she said.

Waldon, who is on leave without pay, said she had been subjected to other forms of harassment since bringing up her complaints."Someone slashed my tires...(and I received) threatening phone calls," she said.

She alleged that Bignardi's harassment caused her to experience migraines, vomiting and diarrhea. Since she is earning no salary, "I'm basically homeless right now," she said.

Waldon said that she intended to return to her job when her health problems were resolved, but that that might take some time since she was receiving no health benefits while on leave.

"She is welcome to come back to work at any time," Hirst said.