C I TY O F H A R TF O R D

INTERDEPARTMENTAL MEMORANDUM

TO: Cherese Chery,

Human Resources Director

FROM: Kelly A. Baerga,

LGBTQ Liaison/ Recruitment Officer

DATE: February 11, 2019

SUBJECT: Sexual Harassment/Disparate Treatment Complaint

The purpose of this memorandum is to document a timeline of events that demonstrates the
Hartford Police Department's lack of transparency, accountability, and empathy for their female
counterparts. I find it to be ironic, the City of Hartford and Hartford Police Department claim to
be entrenched in policy & procedure to include a Zero tolerance of sexual harassment in the
workplace, and yet have failed to ensure my fundamental right of a sexual and gender bias-free
work environment. The cost of the department's inaction has not only caused a health issue of
depression and sleeplessness but also created an atmosphere filled with anxiety, hopelessness,
and constant and continued fear of retaliation and compromised safety. As the department has
spared no additional resources to deter this kind of behavior in the future; No training, no
discipline, becoming too often a pattern of predictability, creating unacceptable and hostile work
conditions. The administration's callous handling of issues related to gender, race, and sexual
orientation has created extreme isolation for me, as an unrepresented class of employee.

The Hartford Police Department and the City of Hartford have regularly demonstrated corrupt
values and a questionable moral compass by allowing gross misconduct by favored employees.
In short, our current administration has shown undeniably that a "Good Ole' Boys" network exists
and many female officers, to include me, are made to feel that the incidents of sexual harassment
and discrimination are of no consequence, which undermines useful policing roles and destroys
employee trust and morale. The inconsistencies with follow through coupled with the
underutilization of department directives to establish checks and balances promote a policing
culture that prefers to protect individuals who are guilty of wrongdoing, rather than those who are
oppressed and victimized. This institutional outing of protected classes’ brands those who seek
justice from disparate treatment, as troublemakers who bring discord to an otherwise harmonious
department.

On May 30, 2018, Lieutenant Paul West, then the Commander of the Recruitment Division filed
sexual harassment and discrimination complaints on my behalf. This complaint was regarding
derogatory, overt, inappropriate comments and offensive behavior displayed by Sergeant Andrew
Rodney during a recruitment event. To this date, (approximately nine months) I have yet to be
notified of my complaint's disposition or given any reassuring instruction or measures to ensure
my safety. In that same complaint, my desire to no longer remain assigned to the Recruitment
Division was also documented; and ignored.
In retrospect, Sergeant Rodney's behavior presents as deliberate, calculated, and progressive. He
is exceptionally chauvinistic and has been allowed to exhibit rapacious behaviors, comments, and
actions without repercussions. The Hartford Police Department and The City of Hartford's
inability to administer swift, appropriate, and proportional remedial action demonstrates the
overall disposition of the institution and their diminished value of harassed employees. This
administration has shown to be devious, far from transparent, and even worse, takes no
accountability of situations that could have been prevented, had they rose to the occasion when
placed on notice by victims.

It is no coincidence that Sergeant Rodney, who was a supervisor in the Intelligence Division,
would once again receive unfair protections as his integrity and behavior are again called into
question. His placement within the Recruitment Division is to minimize inquiries of allegations;
he purchased an unregistered assault weapon from an elderly woman who was waiting in line for
Hartford's "Gun Buy Back Program." A program implemented to remove illegal guns off the
street in hopes of reducing crime and violence. Rodney's missteps in conduct are habitual and
increasing in severity, and unless dealt with harshly, he is not only free to remain a predator but
may prove to be an unfavorable representative of the department, as community members have
heard him brag of his indiscretions absent regulation. The Hartford Police Department would
instead quell favored sworn personnel misconduct by integrating them into a new division of
concentration, opposed to disciplining them.

Sergeant Rodney is intrusive, entitled, and manipulative and fails to respect people's personal
space. On two occasions (Capitol Community College & Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Job
Fair) during two separate recruitment events, he nudged me to draw my attention to a voluptuous
woman walking past our recruitment table, his eyes fixated on her body. Sergeant Rodney did
not attempt to be discreet in any way, making the encounter extremely uncomfortable. Sergeant
Rodney assumed that because I am a gay woman that I was interested in what he discerned as
attractive.

In April 2018, Sergeant Rodney and I had a scheduled meeting, with CT State Police Recruiter,
Sergeant James Scott. After our meeting, Sergeant Scott suggested we get lunch; at which time
Sergeant Rodney recommended a local Jamaican restaurant in the north end. When we entered
the restaurant, Sergeant Scott and I were speaking about the menu and food; I informed Sergeant
Scott that I was a vegetarian. Sergeant Rodney, who was not involved in the conversation,
placed his face between us and shouted, "How can she be a vegetarian when she eats fish?" He
then burst out in laughter. Embarrassed, I walked over to the counter and away from Sergeant
Rodney. I was quiet for the remainder of our lunch and could come up with no other reason a
statement like that would be made, but that Sergeant Rodney intended to "out me" to Sergeant
Scott, which I felt was immensely insensitive and inappropriate.

Upon Lieutenant West's return from Southern Police Institute, he took both Sergeant Rodney and
me out for lunch. As we approached the vehicle, Rodney rushed to the front passenger seat.
Lieutenant West said to Sergeant Rodney, "You should always offer the front seat to a lady."
Bursting out in laughter, Sergeant Rodney replied, "Kelly is not a real lady." I received this
comment as yet another homophobic or derogatory comment, insinuating that women were of a
lower class and that we should always take a back seat.

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Due to increasing discomfort with Sergeant Rodney's behavior towards women, I made every
attempt over the next few weeks to significantly reduce our work time together; often opting to
do work that could be done alone as opposed to partnering with him. I thought about
approaching the administration, Deputy Chief Rendock, and Assistant Chief Medina, but it was
apparent both approved of Sergeant Rodney's character, never addressing Sergeant Rodney about
circumventing Lieutenant West by directly reporting to Deputy Chief Rendock; despite
Lieutenant West's return. This permissive behavior diluted the agencies rank structure and
undermined an upper-level supervisor, creating tension and confusion for me, the only officer in
the division.

On May 26, 2018, overwhelmed with anxiety and stressed about having to travel alone with
Sergeant Rodney to a recruitment event in Bridgeport, CT; I spoke with and requested that
Lieutenant West accompany us to the event. At the time, not knowing why I was so adamant that
he (Lieutenant West) attend the recruitment event, Lieutenant West contacted Sergeant Rodney
by text message and offered him the day off, as he did me since it was during the Memorial Day
weekend, and we are both veterans and could have lost someone in service. Sergeant Rodney
opted to attend and upon arrival to the department, and while he and I prepared for the trip to
Bridgeport, he complained to me in an angry tone, he was offended that Lieutenant West would
offer him the day off for Memorial Day, "Doesn't he know that this is a day of mourning for
those who served?" Sergeant Rodney continued to say, "He is not getting overtime because I
didn't tell Rendock that he was going." Sergeant Rodney then chuckled in annoyance, while we
waited for Lieutenant West to come to the car. When we arrived at the recruitment event in
Bridgeport, I could tell that Sergeant Rodney was annoyed Lieutenant West had accompanied us
to the affair. No matter what the subject of conversation, Sergeant Rodney would make
comments about Lieutenant West in front of me, often comparing their physical attributes, which
came across as being competitive in nature, as if he was vying for my attention. I strongly feel it
was his goal to "turn me" as he finds lesbians useless.

The recruitment event had approximately 400 participants and a good number of women in
attendance. The Bridgeport Police Department placed a table by the front doors, and since we
were competing with them for the same participants, we decided to set up a station where
participants entered in from the track and would stand to wait to receive their C.H.I.P. cards.
Lieutenant West and Sergeant Rodney stood by a table along a wall opposite of me to collect
names and contact information while approximately six feet away, I was positioned at the top of
a stairwell that led test takers from the track outside to the hallway where we all stood near each
other. I greeted the attendees, handed recruitment fliers out and briefly spoke about the benefits
and opportunities the department has to offer.

Although we were all there to make ourselves available to all participants, regardless of gender,
race, or sexual identity, Sergeant Rodney would zone in on specific female participants, those
women who were well endowed or otherwise what he referred to as (thick) and who were
feminine. If Sergeant Rodney liked the way a woman looked, he would follow her along as she
waited in line to become more acquainted with her. He did this to several waiting women, as he
stared at them with a naughty smile as if he were undressing them. Those, whom Sergeant
Rodney was particularly smitten with, received a star by their name. One particular woman's
appearance prompted him to skim the contact list to see if he could determine where her name
was written, he then eventually inputted a name and number on the contact list in his cell phone.

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When he was not doing this, he disappeared to watch a soccer game, which gave me a brief
reprieve from his gross conduct.

As the line dwindled to a few people, I heard Sergeant Rodney refer to another curvaceous
woman as "Man, she's thick!" He then said a few other things I was either unable to hear or tried
to ignore. Attendees were starting to trickle in, as waves of people were finishing up their run.
Sergeant Rodney then looked my way, by gesturing to me, nodding his head in my direction,
saying, "Too bad she doesn't want no dick!" I was horrified and humiliated by the ease and
comfort Sergeant Rodney had speaking in that manner, especially at an event so heavily attended
by prospective candidates. Although I could not see Lieutenant West's face because his back was
turned to me, I could tell that Lieutenant West was trying to redirect the conversation without
making a scene. Sergeant Rodney burst out in laughter and stated, "She want tit, not dick!"

Sergeant Rodney went on to say that he has had threesomes before, Lieutenant West once again
tried to redirect the conversation and referred to Sergeant Rodney as being married; at which time
Sergeant Rodney stated, "So what, it's fun." Sergeant Rodney then stated, "If a man is fucking
my wife, and I'm fucking his, you know what I mean, so what." He then said to Lieutenant West,
"If I’m with two women, and the other woman satisfies my wife, and my wife falls asleep, what
am I supposed to do with this?" By the time I looked up, Sergeant Rodney had his hand in front
of him and positioned in a way that insinuated he was holding an erect penis. He then stated,
"I'm not waiting until the morning to be satisfied, I would just satisfy the woman." He then
grabbed his inner thigh referencing he has a large penis. Disgusted and angry at his refusal to
cease his derogatory comments; I walked away.

Upset by Sergeant Rodney's comments and observing firsthand how his behavior progressed in
severity over the course of our time working together and unable to tolerate working with
someone who had little to no value for women, I spoke with Lieutenant West about my concerns.
Lieutenant West apologized I had been subjected to Sergeant Rodney's behavior and commented
he was unaware that I had overheard Sergeant Rodney's comments as he attempted to redirect the
Sergeant. He also informed me that he would be speaking to the administration and documenting
our conversation. Despite Lieutenant West's documentation of the incident, I remained under the
supervision of Sergeant Rodney. Shortly after that, Lieutenant West was removed from the
Recruitment Division, and I was left to work with Sergeant Rodney alone and under his
supervision for several more days. I again felt I was retaliated against for making a complaint
against a preferred employee. I was forced to work alone in a cubicle in the chief's complex
hallway, and a supervisor whom I had developed a rapport with was purposely removed, which
made me feel I was on a peninsula alone with no support. Further, I was never issued a unit
number, which is customarily granted to each member of a specialized unit to communicate with
our communications department. Being out in the field without a designation is an officer safety
issue, which no one in command cared to address.

On or about May 31, 2018, at approximately 2:30 P.M, I was called into the office of Assistant
Chief, Rafael Medina. AC Medina asked me to explain the incident with Sergeant Rodney, and I
became overwhelmed with emotion and began to cry; my feelings was a culmination of the
anxiety and stress I felt having to work under his supervision with the knowledge of his predatory
behavior towards other women and me. I was also taken off-guard because I expressed I was too
emotional to be interviewed and knew Lt. West had relayed this to both Chief Rosado and
Medina. I was appalled AC Medina did not allow me to gather my thoughts or respect my right to

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privacy, as there is a measure of embarrassment as a victim. Gaining my composure, I eventually
explained to AC Medina what occurred; AC Medina then promised me that Sergeant Rodney
would be immediately removed from the division, but that he couldn't prevent entirely any
contact since we are both sworn officers.

AC Medina then informed me I would need to work alone until both supervisors could be
replaced. The decision to leave me alone without any help or supervision perplexed me as the
application process had just reopened and I was not sure why Lieutenant West had been removed
permanently. (It was as if the Lieutenant and I had been disciplined for filing a sexual harassment
complaint). I left AC Medina's office and returned to my cubicle, which was in the Chief's
Complex, just steps from Medina's office and side by side with Sergeant Rodney's cubicle.
Approximately fifteen minutes later, AC Medina exited his office, walked by my desk and into
Deputy Chief Rendock's office and closed the door behind him. Moments later, both AC Medina
and DC Rendock stopped by Sergeant Rodney's cubicle and asked to speak to him. All three
entered AC Medina's office, while I was still present at my desk.

Moments later, Sergeant Rodney exited AC Medina's office, walked directly to my desk and
demanded that he speak with me. The innate fight or flight mechanism caused me to stand up
from my desk. I then looked back hoping a chief would come and provide an escort. However,
AC Medina's office door was slightly ajar, and neither chief felt that it was necessary to walk
Sergeant Rodney out to ensure my safety; as Sergeant Rodney was armed and could have done
several things that would have posed a hostile and dangerous work environment for me.
Sergeant Rodney ordered me to step outside of the Chief's Complex. I was overwhelmed with
anxiety and was terrified for my safety. I could tell that Sergeant Rodney was angry, his body
rigid, his brow glazed with perspiration and he was breathing heavily.

As Sergeant Rodney and I breached the doorway of the Chief's Complex, he began shouting
"Kelly, you know me." "I did not mean what I said." "You could have talked to me." When
Sergeant Rodney noticed that he was attracting attention, he then demanded we finish the
conversation down the hallway. As we walked down the hallway, we passed First Sergeant
Liappes and Lieutenant Leonard and his young daughter. As I passed First Sergeant Liappes,
she stated: "smile would ya!" We continued down the hallway beyond secured doors, where
sergeant Rodney continued to shout. If you eat fish, you are a pescatarian!!! As Sergeant Rodney
continued shouting, I could see that Lieutenant Leonard sensed something was wrong because on
occasion as he waited for his daughter to exit the restroom; he looked back at me through the
glass of the secured doors. Rodney was positioned between the doors, and me and I felt trapped
and afraid to turn my back to him. Sergeant Rodney went on and on waving his arms, shouting;
not noticing that Detective Leopold Clarke had exited the elevator and was walking in our
direction. Detective Clarke as he looked at me asked: "Is everything okay?" Seizing this as an
opportunity to leave safely, I turned to Sergeant Rodney and said, "I have nothing to say to you,
please do not speak to me." I went back to my desk, took my things and left for the day, without
an escort.

On or about June 1, 2018, I came into work early. I utilized the FOB to open the secured door of
the Chiefs Complex; as I entered the front lobby area of the complex, Sergeant Rodney who
should not have access to this area, startled me and began to walk toward me, and says, "I'm
sorry." Sergeant Rodney then hears a noise and not wanting to be seen, walks out of the complex.
I then observed Deputy Chief Ford exit the male bathroom inside the complex and walk past me.

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Later that day, I spoke with AC Medina, in the presence of Lieutenant West and advised Medina
that Sergeant Rodney has approached me on multiple occasions already and that "I do not feel
safe." AC Medina then stated, "Sergeant Rodney was told to stay away from you." I then
proceeded to tell AC Medina that after their conversation with Rodney, he immediately
confronted me. AC Medina then stated something contrary to what he stated just moments ago
to me, "Sergeant Rodney was never told who filed the complaint, only that a complaint was filed
against him." Again, no reassurances were offered to me, but an attempt to rationalize the
incompetent handling of the situation.

On June 1, 2018, at 1:43 P.M., I received an email from the Director of Human Resources,
Cherese Chery, requesting an interview at City hall on June 4, 2018, at 9 a.m., which I accepted.

On June 4, 2018, at 9 A.M., I met with the Director of Human Resources Ms. Cherese Chery and
Mrs. Jeanine Fair in the human resources conference room at City Hall. Ms. Chery asked if I
would like to read the complaint Lieutenant West wrote on my behalf, which I declined. Ms.
Chery asked me several questions regarding the incident in Bridgeport and upon my departure
asked for copies of the recruitment events contact lists. She also informed me that she would be
speaking to Sergeant Rodney afterward and would make notification to me of disposition and her
suggestions to the agency upon completion of the investigation. I was not to hear back from Mrs.
Chery until nine months later, during other and unrelated business.

On June 5, 2018, at approximately 9:53 A.M., I entered the second-floor parking deck to utilize
the recruitment car. As I approached the parked vehicle, I unlocked and opened the rear drivers'
side door and observed a black handgun in Plainview, laying on the back seat. Unsure if the
pistol was real, I handled it with care, making sure it was not loaded. I was able to determine the
handgun was a facsimile gun, in fact, a black, Marksman, repeater BB gun. It is of note the
recruitment vehicle is a marked vehicle assigned to the Recruitment Division, and only I and
Sergeant Rodney had access to the cruiser. As usual, I was the last person who drove the car, on
June 4, 2018, at 9 A.M. to attend a meeting with HR Director Cherese Chery. After the meeting,
the car was parked on the parking deck and locked before 2 P.M. After securing the weapon, I
walked to the Fleet Division and spoke to the Fleet Manager, Officer Rivera and made inquiry if
Sergeant Rodney had turned his recruitment car key in. Officer Rivera stated that Sergeant
Rodney turned his recruitment key in on June 4, 2018, at 2:30 P.M. Sergeant Rodney and I were
the only two who had keys to the recruitment car, and I believe he planted the facsimile gun in
the backseat in retaliation towards me. I documented and cased the incident under case
#18-15981 and to my knowledge was never investigated by the Internal Affairs Division.

Sergeant Rodney once shared with Lieutenant West and me that he made a motor vehicle stop
while assigned with the Intel Division. While conducting the stop, he approached the male in the
car and stated, "Where is the gun?" Sergeant Rodney then stated the male said, "I don't have a
gun," Sergeant Rodney then stated that he struck the male, (pistol-whipped him) and replied,
"You have a gun!" Sergeant Rodney burst out in laughter, basically insinuating that he planted a
gun on the male. I was mortified, to say the least, and believe that Sergeant Rodney is a liability
to this department and bear no accountability for his actions.

On July 11, 2018, at 12:15 P.M, I received an email from Deputy Chief Rendock, this email
stated he and Sergeant Rodney reserved a spot at the Westover Airshow, requesting that I
complete and submit documentation to attend the event. I informed Deputy Chief Rendock that I

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would be on vacation during that period and that I had requested that vacation time several
months in advance with Lt. West and Sergeant Rodney had been notified of my vacation upon
entering the division. Notably, the reminder email to DC Rendock had come from Sergeant
Rodney, who is in the Air Force and would be at Westover on the date of the event. I believe
Sergeant Rodney would attempt at any cost to create an uncomfortable situation or create an
opportunity of stress for me, and I was at the disposal of the agency.

Since my complaint, I have been subjected to attending four "Give Back Days" (training days)
with Sergeant Rodney, the first being on June 12, 2018, where he spent every break out in the
hallway with a group of officers talking and laughing loudly. While I stood leaning against a
radiator in the foyer of the academy to conceal myself, Sergeant Rodney stared at me and
positioned himself to keep me in view, laughing and carrying on with nearby officers. His laugh
made my skin crawl, and I was anxious/nauseous at the mere sight of him. He made every
attempt to make that day as uncomfortable as possible for me. Unfortunately, I would attend
three additional training days with Sergeant Rodney on 9/5/18, 12/4/18, where Sergeant Rodney
followed me into the gymnasium when I was attempting to move in an area not occupied by him.
Upon observing him enter the gymnasium, I left the area once again to move into the auditorium.
The last training, I was forced to attend with Sergeant Rodney was at Dunkin Donuts Park on
1/18/19. As I went to initial my name for the training, I scanned the roster to ensure his name
was not on the list; which it was not. As I went to sit for the training, I observed Sergeant
Rodney staring at me, he was seated in the first column of seats, but then opted to stand facing
my direction, where he would have a clear view of me. I made every attempt to be seated out of
his sight, but it didn't matter, he continued to stare until I either moved from my seat or
eventually got dismissed for the day. I feel incredibly dirty every time he lasers me with his eyes,
and it feels he has peeled every fiber of my clothing off of me.

On January 28, 2019, Human Resources conducted a recruitment meeting with the Career
Development Commanders to include me, and the Sergeant of the Background Division. Upon
completion of the meeting, Director of Human Resources, Cherese Chery asked to speak with LT
Rodriguez-Velez outside the conference room. Moments later as Captain Powell, Lieutenant
Rodriguez-Velez and I began to walk out; the lieutenant asked me to stand by as she walked
ahead with Captain Powell into the lobby to speak. As I waited for Lieutenant Rodriguez-Velez,
HR Director Chery walked out to me in the lobby and asked, "How I was doing." I was very
candid with Ms. Chery and informed her that Sergeant Rodney has not yet been disciplined, my
safety not ensured and that I am still attending training days with Sergeant Rodney. Mrs. Chery
told me that she had suggested some solutions to the department upon completion of her
investigation and she was unsure why they had not yet rectified the situation. I informed Mrs.
Chery that this is exactly how the department deals with conduct unbecoming; they don't deal
with it at all. They move people to different divisions in hopes that the problem will be forgotten
and the victims who are unrepresented, exhaust themselves fighting a battle that will never be
justified by discipline.

On January 29, 2019, Lieutenant Rodriguez-Velez informed me that HR Director Chery asked
how I was doing. Lieutenant Rodriguez-Velez told Chery she had noticed a marked difference in
my disposition and suspects that something is bothering me. I was offended and upset that
someone other than myself was asked how I was doing. It would take nine months for anyone to
ask how I was or if there was anything that they could provide to protect my wellbeing.
Lieutenant Rodriguez-Velez should not know or have any involvement in this matter, as this is

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an issue yet to be rectified by the department and should be of no one's business than those
intimately involved. Sharing this sensitive information violates my privacy in such a delicate
matter.

On January 29, 2019, all sworn personnel who are PBA members received an email from
Sergeant Reggie Early, President of the PBA and Sergeant assigned to the Internal Affairs
Bureau. In his email, he asked all those who did not attend the PBA dinner to contact him to
receive their PBA gift I contacted Sergeant Early and responded to the Office of Internal Affairs
to receive my gift. As I began to walk out of Internal Affairs, I heard Lieutenant O'Brien call out
to me. I walked into his office and stood by the door. Lieutenant O'Brien sitting back in his
chair, in a lounged back position, asked if I would be around during the week. I replied "Yes" he
then said he would call me in the week to speak with me. I looked to him to gain some further
information; at which point he looked at me and said: "Yeah, I wanna close up this Rodney
thing." I was a bit surprised that his overall attitude was very nonchalant as if he was doing me a
favor. To date, it was the first time Internal Affairs had contacted me about the events involving
Sergeant Rodney. His overall insensitivity to the circumstances involving Sergeant Rodney upset
me. His persistence to speak with me over the next week bordered harassment. As I suspect his
interest to close the case, is to save and protect the administration as well as the City of Hartford.

In Conclusion, I am requesting that the City of Hartford Personnel Department begin to monitor
my workplace assignments and offer workplace protections. This appeal is due to the failure of
the Police Department's administration to adequately protect me after a sexual harassment
complaint was filed. The department's failure to address this situation is extremely upsetting and
has negatively impacted not just my work life, but also my personal life and health. As a gay,
Hispanic woman who holds two roles within the department, I am both a recruitment officer and
the LGBTQ Liaison for the department. Both positions are equally demanding and should be the
catalyst for change, but neither is given the respect deserved.

As a recruiter, I have raised the number of women and the LGBTQ population of recruits by 50
%. With this said, how can I be expected to promote taking and upholding an oath to serve and
protect all. While witnessing the same protections, and assurances being ignored by an agency
and city that fails to protect a population, which is marginalized and undervalued but the same
agency continues to boast transparency/ inclusiveness. No one intervened, despite consistent
behavioral conduct by Sergeant Rodney indicating a harassing, intimidating, and hostile working
environment. How can an officer begin to trust the system and feel valued; if the very
supervisors, who govern the agency, fall short of their roles, and minimize sensitive events,
regarding women in a predominantly male profession? This incident was a clear indication of
this agencies administration lack of maturity, professionalism, progression, and inclusion,
constructing an environment that is reminiscent of the start of the women's rights movement.

The homophobic culture of the administration has minimized a vital role within the department
as the LGBTQ Liaison by choosing to keep it from being placed on the organizational chart until
addressed by the Union President, Sergeant John Szewczyk and me. I believe the only reason my
sexual harassment complaint was finally discussed on Monday, January 28, 2019, was because
the police department's inaction was brought to the attention of the Human Resources
Department in another complaint. I also feel that the accused may be getting protected because
he is a supporter of Mayor Bronin, as he was standing behind him on the steps of City Hall
during his reelection announcement last week. The vision of this individual standing with the

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Mayor in celebratory fashion revictimized me, as ultimately it is the city's responsibility to
protect other females and me from sexual harassment and subsequent ostracism in the workplace.

As the saying goes, "Birds of a feather flock together." It is my firm belief; neither the police
administration nor the Mayor truly cares about a fair and equitable working environment. The
Command Staff is a reflection of the Mayor as they mirror each other, with their words, which
contain no substance of truth. Resultantly, there are glaring systemic and structural issues
plaguing the department, while inexplicably, the victim is habitually made to be the source of
trouble, and the zero-tolerance policy applies to those who report rather than those who offend.

KAB/kab