Las Cruces settles officer rape lawsuit for $3M

The city of Las Cruces on Tuesday agreed to settle the case of a former Las Cruces Police Department intern who was raped by an officer inside his patrol car for $3 million.

Dianna Guererro was raped by former Officer Michael Garcia and sued the police department, saying the department had a culture of sexism and inappropriate behavior that allowed people like Garcia to be preyed upon.

Guererro was victimized by Garcia before she was raped – called names and objectified.

Other male employees reportedly displayed similar sexist behavior, according to the lawsuit.

Guererro released a statement to KOB Tuesday on her court victory:

“I am most happy and satisfied that this lawsuit brought to light a cesspool of sexual violence and harassment that exists in police departments across this country.  I’m living proof that you can speak out against sexual violence and win justice.  I am very proud that as a result of speaking out the Las Cruces Police Department no longer allows student ride alongs to be alone with officers unsupervised and that reporting misconduct is now encouraged instead of discouraged.

I would like to thank the female detective that asked me why I wasn’t at the police academy and who believed me and supported me to speak the truth against the male officer who raped me.  She also told the truth in her deposition about the male officers speaking in a degrading way about women and she gave me the courage to keep fighting for a safe place for women to serve as officers.”