Pasadena City College announced Thursday, Oct. 22, that Police Chief Steven Matchan had resigned while facing a lawsuit from six current and former female campus police employees alleging years of sexual harassment.

Robert Blizinski, assistant superintendent and vice president of human resources, confirmed the resignation in an email to faculty that morning, reported by the PCC Courier. Students received a similar message about an hour later from Ivan Peña, assistant superintendent and vice president of student services, according to the Courier.

The college has not stated why Matchan resigned.

The lawsuit

Six current and former female campus police employees filed the lawsuit against Matchan and the Pasadena Area Community College District on May 4, then amended it on July 7, according to the Pasadena Star-News. The complaint alleges unwanted physical contact, sexually suggestive remarks and use of authority over promotions to intimidate subordinates, with claims spanning nearly a decade.

The six plaintiffs are Ruby Valdez, Rocio Diaz Ortiz, Raquel Barron, Nishelle Andrion, Francis Echeverria and Delilah Patino, according to the PCC Courier's earlier reporting. All six filed complaints with the California Civil Rights Department before the lawsuit.

The suit also names Blizinski and campus police Sgt. Tyler Robins as defendants. Plaintiffs allege Blizinski received complaints about Matchan but failed to address them. One plaintiff, Valdez, alleges Blizinski omitted key allegations from his report after she reported that Matchan struck her thigh and grabbed her neck, according to the Courier.

The lawsuit also accuses college administrators of ignoring complaints and failing to protect employees, the Star-News reported. Several plaintiffs allege the harassment derailed their careers or forced them to resign. The plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial and damages for emotional distress and financial losses.

What comes next

Blizinski's email said the college will begin a national search for a new police chief, with a Selection Advisory Committee as part of the process. Alan Chan has been serving as interim chief since PCC President José A. Gómez placed Matchan on leave at an undisclosed date.

Ryan T. Trotta, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, said in an email Oct. 22 that he was "glad to see that Steven Matchan will no longer be in a position of power to harm more employees at the Pasadena City College Police Department," the Star-News reported. Trotta added that his team is "prepared to litigate the extent to which the district took to cover up these actions."

The Star-News reported that college and district officials did not respond to its request for comment. Matchan also could not be reached by the Star-News. In an earlier written response to the Courier, Blizinski said the college takes allegations of discrimination, harassment and inappropriate workplace conduct seriously and has established procedures for reviewing them. He declined an interview, citing ongoing litigation.

The resignation follows growing criticism of PCC's handling of the allegations. The PCC Courier's editorial board published a piece Oct. 20 criticizing administrators for withholding information about Matchan's employment status. Christine Cheng, writing to the Academic Senate on behalf of staff and faculty, said women at PCC "have lost TRUST in the very system that was established to protect us," according to the editorial.

The next court hearing is scheduled for May 11, 2027.