Fresno police union leader accused of retaliation after sex advances rebuffed
A lawsuit alleges the president of the Fresno Police Officers Association made repeated unwanted sexual advances to a subordinate, and was later caught in an audio recording saying, “I’m going to fire her for this,” after she rejected him.
Anna Pine worked as a business manager and treasurer for the FPOA, the union that represents Fresno police officers, from 2021 until she was terminated in August, which her lawsuit claimed was a wrongful termination in retaliation to the rebuffed advances of union president Jeff LaBlue. Before heading up the union, LaBlue was a sergeant at Fresno Police Department.
Pine’s lawsuit said the sexual advances began after she initiated a divorce around December 2023. The lawsuit says the two participated in a graphic sexting relationship from then to March 2024, adding a power imbalance existed between Pine and LaBlue, her supervisor. Their relationship was never physical, the lawsuit says.
She’s represented by Fresno attorney Brian Whelan.
“The organization’s president is on tape blaming my client’s menstrual cycle, calling her ‘a f---ing bitch,’ and saying he was going to fire her for doing her job,” Whelan said in a statement. “Afterward, they lied about her to cover it up. That is not a misunderstanding — it is blatant retaliation and sex discrimination, and my client will be vindicated in court.”
The city of Fresno is not named in the lawsuit, which lists the Fresno Police Officers Association and LaBlue as defendants.
“While the city is not named in this lawsuit, we take these allegations very seriously and will monitor the situation closely,” the Fresno City Attorney’s Office said in a statement to The Bee.
The FPOA said in a statement that Pine “was terminated for cause following documented performance and conduct issues.” The union denied the allegations in Pine’s complaint.
“Following Pine’s termination, the FPOA has uncovered additional evidence that further supports the FPOA’s position and denial of Pine’s allegations,” the police union said in its statement.
“Based on the evidence identified and acquired after Pine’s termination, the FPOA and La Blue will take all necessary actions to defend themselves and vindicate their rights. The Association will not litigate this matter through the media and will not comment further.”
Allegations of discrimination and wrongful termination
The lawsuit says Pine attempted in 2024 to “reestablish professional boundaries and disengage from the sexualized dynamic,” which led to a change in demeanor from LaBlue. In November of that year, Pine disclosed her plans to her co-workers.
Another FPOA staff member “broke down in tears” as she repeated to Pine some of the sexual remarks she heard LaBlue say about Pine.
“(LaBlue) wanted to grab (Pine) by the neck and/or hair and slam her against a headboard because she was ‘so cute,’“ the complaint says. “The comments were alarming, graphic and entirely inappropriate for any workplace — particularly one led by police union.”
The comments were reported to the union’s third-party human resources representatives, the lawsuit says.
LaBlue later sat next to Pine in sometime around December 2024 and January 2025 during a retirement committee meeting before he used his foot to “caress” Pine’s leg, the lawsuit says. When she pulled away, he reacted negatively, the lawsuit says.
The complaint says the FPOA workplace was “wired for continuous audio and video recording,” noting the union’s own policy is that employees do not have any expectation of privacy.
A recording from April 2025 caught LaBlue talking to another employee and calling Pine “a f---ing bitch” and saying her menstrual cycle was “a f---ing nightmare.”
The same recording included LaBlue making retaliatory statements against Pine for attempting to enforce workplace standards, the lawsuit says. “I am going to fire her for this,” the lawsuit claims LaBlue said about Pine.
When the FPOA terminated Pine, they offered her about $70,000 in severance and attempted to get her to sign a “gag provision,” which is illegal under the California’s Silenced No More Act, according to the lawsuit.
LaBlue then spread rumors that Pine was stealing money after he learned she intended to file a lawsuit, the complaint says.
Her lawsuit seeks a jury trial and damages for a hostile work environment, gender-based discrimination, defamation and other misconduct.
This story was originally published January 29, 2026 at 6:27 PM.
