San Diego lifeguard captain sues city over chief job hiring

A San Diego lifeguard captain has filed a lawsuit against the city and its lifeguard department, claiming she was prevented from applying for the top lifeguard position despite being highly qualified, obrag.org reported.

Maureen Hodges, the city's first and only female lifeguard captain, alleges the city barred her from applying for the chief lifeguard job after the previous chief was fired in early October, according to the Times of San Diego.

Hodges has served as a lifeguard for 20 years and currently holds the position of Marine Safety Captain of Strategic Operations. She says she asked the acting chief about applying for the chief role and was initially told she could be considered.

However, four days later, the city announced it had hired Daniel Orloff, a former lifeguard turned Deputy City Attorney, as the new chief. Hodges claims Orloff is far less experienced, having been a full-time lifeguard for less than five years and leaving the service in 2023 at the rank of sergeant.

Hodges is seeking damages and an injunction to require the city to better protect employees from discrimination, according to the lawsuit. A city attorney spokesperson has not provided a comment in the source.