CITY OF HARTFORD
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