Employees of the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System are concerned after one of their colleagues was found murdered in his home last week.
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43-year-old Joshua Watson, a supervisor at the medical center, was killed at his Rancho Cucamonga home on Nov. 25. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office hasn’t released details on the manner of death or if a suspect has been identified.
Several colleagues told the Press-Enterprise they believe the attack may have been related to a dispute with a former employee.
“It’s a scary place to work,” one worker said.
VA Loma Linda has been plagued by allegations of harassment and hostile work conditions for years. In 2021, a federal investigation found that a manager at the facility used racial slurs and retaliated against employees, but rather than terminate the manager, he was promoted.
A year later, a groundskeeper died by suicide after years of alleged harassment from the same supervisor.
A 2023 survey found that the vast majority of VA Loma Linda employees are reluctant to report workplace misconduct, and just 27% who had reported wrongdoing felt their complaints were taken seriously.
In September, Rep. Jay Obernolte, who represents the area, told Congress that retaliation against whistleblowers and “lack of trust in leadership” continues to be a problem at the facility.
In a statement, VA Loma Linda officials said they’re saddened by Watson’s death, but wouldn’t provide any additional details due to the ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Sheriff’s Detective Eduardo Badillo at 909-890-4904.
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