Ceres Police Chief Chris Perry and the city of Ceres are named in a lawsuit filed by a police detective who accuses the chief of discrimination based on family and/or marital status, sexual harassment and creating a hostile workplace environment.

Matthew Berlier, hired as a Ceres police officer in 2015 and presently a Crimes against Persons detective, filed suit on Oct. 2 requesting a jury trial in Stanislaus County Superior Court. He is represented by the law firm of Goyette, Ruano & Thompson of Gold River.

Berlier claims that then Lt. Perry in July 2019 “began to systematically and pervasively make derogatory remarks” about his appearance, regularly stating, “You look like sh--” yet his attire was the same as other detectives. He claims that when he defended himself, Perry replied, “Yeah, but you still look like sh--.”

Berlier said the disparaging remarks continued until about May 2022 and were usually made while passing one another in the hallways or in the police gym. On one occasion when he was wearing a flannel jacket, Berlier claims Perry said made a remark to the effect of, “You look like you’re wearing a dog bed” or “You look like a dog wrapped in a dog’s bed.” At times Perry allegedly tried to get Berlier to grow his hair out from the Navy buzz cut he was used to wearing and considered that a “clear attack on his identity as a veteran.”

The Courier reached out for a comment to Chief Perry who didn’t return a call. City Manager Doug Dunford said he couldn’t comment on the lawsuit but did say an investigation is being conducted by the city’s self-insurance pool, the Central San Joaquin Valley Risk Management Authority.

Berlier previously worked for the Chowchilla Police Department and as a Merced sheriff’s deputy for a year. His prior military experience included five years in the Navy where he worked in the military police. He served on deployments to Iraq and the Middle East during Operation of Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

The suit alleges that Perry on regular occasions would make inappropriate remarks about his own wife and sexual desires for younger women. Berlier said that he endured “extreme stress” and feared retaliation if he reported the alleged misconduct.

Perry became police chief in February to succeed Rick Collins.

Berlier said that when two sergeant positions became available, he applied and was passed over for a promotion even though he ranked the first among nine applicants on a promotional exam. Specifically the complaint claims that while three of the four finalists were interviewed in a room with both Perry and Dunford, Berlier was treated differently by being escorted to Dunford’s office and placed in a chair too small to accommodate his gun/equipment belt to “create maximal discomfort and disadvantage, preventing plaintiff’s ability to represent himself in his highest and best capabilities.”

The lawsuit further claims: “Shortly after the interview, while plaintiff was driving home, defendant Perry called (Berlier) and stated words the same or similar as, ‘I’m passing you over for Pinion,’ stating that he was ‘more polished in the interview.’” The suit claims Perry then laughed and ended the call by saying something like, “I hope I didn’t ruin your vacation.”

Aaron Pinon and Matthew Vierra received the promotions.

Berlier was stunned at being passed over, especially since Perry, as chief, noted on his annual performance review in March: “Det. Berlier, This is a stellar evaluation which is well deserved. I know you have been working really hard on a lot of complex cases. Thank you for a continued job well done. I am very proud of the work you do and you are appreciated more than you know.”

The court filing states that others in the police management team confronted Perry about passing over Berlier and were told that his decision was based on Berlier’s marital issues which he claimed were disruptive to the department. Berlier’s attorneys, however, said that despite some marital problems in 2023, Berlier and his wife remain “happily married.”

The court filing notes that two presidents of the Ceres Police Officers Association addressed multiple concerns about Perry’s leadership on behalf of all members and that Perry stated his opinion that many of the police department’s problems were caused by Berlier being upset that he wasn’t promoted. The document alleges that Perry threatened to “initiate, willy-nilly in a weaponized manner, an internal affairs investigation against plaintiff despite having no cause, citizen complaint or other legitimate and lawful means to commence an internal administrative investigation against plaintiff.”