Former Sanger officer sues for retaliation after firing

Agustin Villatoro claims he was terminated for rejecting sexual harassment from his supervisor

Feb. 24, 2026 at 1:07am

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A former Sanger police sergeant, Agustin Villatoro, is suing his former supervisor Joshua Johnson and the city of Sanger for sexual harassment and retaliation. Villatoro claims he was fired in May 2025 for allegedly making false statements in a police report, but he alleges this was in retaliation for not submitting to Johnson's alleged sexual advances over a two-year period.

Why it matters

This case highlights issues of alleged misconduct and abuse of power within a local police department, as well as the challenges public employees can face in reporting and addressing harassment from supervisors.

The details

According to records, Villatoro was fired for allegedly altering another officer's use-of-force report to remove details about a suspect being injured during an arrest. Villatoro denies the allegations and claims he was retaliated against for rejecting his supervisor's sexual advances. His attorney argued at a disciplinary hearing that the offense did not warrant termination.

  • Villatoro was placed on leave in October 2024 over "concocted allegations" for not submitting to Johnson's alleged advances.
  • Villatoro was fired on May 23, 2025 for allegedly making false statements in a police report.
  • In March 2026, Sanger fire Chief Greg Tarascou met with Villatoro and his attorney for a Skelly hearing regarding the proposed disciplinary action.

The players

Agustin Villatoro

A former Sanger police sergeant who is suing his former supervisor and the city for sexual harassment and retaliation.

Joshua Johnson

A commander in the Sanger Police Department who Villatoro accused of sexually harassing him over the course of two years.

Greg Tarascou

The Sanger fire chief who met with Villatoro and his attorney for a Skelly hearing regarding the proposed disciplinary action.

Brett Rutkowski

Villatoro's attorney who voiced concerns about Villatoro's Peace Officer Bill of Rights protections and perceived bias from Johnson during the Skelly hearing.

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What they’re saying

“Rutkowski states that Villatoro admitted that he should have submitted the required reports earlier, but this is not an offense that warrants termination.”

— Greg Tarascou, Sanger fire chief (The Fresno Bee)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to allow Villatoro's lawsuit against Johnson and the city of Sanger to proceed.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges public employees can face in reporting and addressing harassment from supervisors, as well as the potential for abuse of power within local law enforcement agencies.