AUBURN – A jail officer is suing the county, claiming she was sexually harassed on the job.

Lisa Webster of Poland filed a complaint in Androscoggin County Superior Court last month alleging that a supervisor at Androscoggin County Jail made offensive comments about her, including degrading slurs.

She said she made her treatment known to jail managers, who failed to take action.

Webster started working at the jail in 1992. In 2004, she became senior control officer, overseeing security systems, under the supervision of Sgt. Kevin Harmon. She claims Harmon sexually harassed her.

Harmon made offensive comments about her, the suit says, including slurs about her weight and personal hygiene. He also told her often she was useless and old and had “no place for me,” she said in the suit.

Harmon allegedly made:

• fun of the way she walked by imitating her;

• rude comments about the way she walked;

• degrading comments about her, such as, “Yuck, don’t touch that thing,” and, “Stay away from that thing,” and, “She is gross.”

Harmon told her she would not be promoted as long as she worked at the Sheriff’s Department. He gave her poor evaluations and “unwarranted” criticism.

Harmon’s conduct was “severe and pervasive,” the suit said, and interfered with the way she was able to do her job.

After she made her complaint to jail management, she suffered retaliation, including not being allowed to work overtime hours.

Webster complained to the Maine Human Rights Commission, which did not reach a conclusion in this case, a spokeswoman at that agency said. Webster charged that the jail maintained a hostile work environment against her and management failed to take immediate and appropriate action to resolve the issue. For those reasons, damages should be awarded to her, she said.

She also is seeking punitive damages and reimbursement for lost wages and for costs of bringing the suit, including attorney’s fees.

An attorney who is representing the county in this matter could not be reached for comment.