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Harlingen Police Officer Alicia Garcia is thankful a federal jury sided against the man who she claimed placed her in fear and violated his oath to protect.

"When he held me trapped in that unit... against my will... I could never forget... No one should ever be put through that," said Garcia.

She said it happened about a year before she became an officer in 2002.  Garcia was an ordinary citizen, employed back then, as a dispatcher at HPD when Captain Ramon Vela took her on a “ride-along”.

"When a police officer keeps you in a vehicle and passes you a note that says, ‘will you go out with me: yes or no.’"

She said that moment left her scarred and cast into the shadows for possible promotions or reassignments at the department over the years.  Garcia sued in 2006. 

A jury just recently found the City of Harlingen discriminated against Garcia on the basis of sex and awarded her $27,500 plus attorney fees. 

As for Captain Vela who was also sued, jurors did not find his reported sexual advances to blame for Garcia’s missed employment opportunities. 

But according to Garcia, they did send a very strong message about Vela’s shocking and offensive behavior overall.

"They gave $100,000 in punitive damages," she said. "If he didn't do anything... then the jury should have just put $0 in that section... and that would have said everything... but they didn't."

Captain Vela and the City’s attorney have denied our requests for an interview since the verdict.  But Vela has maintained his innocence from the get-go and was even cleared of wrongdoing during an internal police investigation. 

Officer Garcia has a theory as to why a decision by a Jury contradicts that investigation.

"They tried to protect Captain Ramon vela... And I don't understand that," she said.

Officer Garcia added how the lawsuit was never about money and how she hoped to keep her job at the Harlingen Police Department. 

She called her fellow officers -- some of the best in the field.  

Despite the 9-year ordeal, Garcia said she believes her actions will inspire others who may be faced with a similar situation to stand up for “what is right”.