Responding Appropriately To Harassment Complaint Insulates Employer From Liability

Public Safety Labor News, Recent Developments, Sexual Harassment

In her first two weeks as a patrol officer for the City of Fort Pierce, Florida, Nicole Patsalides reported that she was sexually harassed by a co-worker. During that time, by her account, a male patrol officer with whom she worked touched her repeatedly in ways that she considered to be inappropriate, and in general…

Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment Case Against Sheriff Heading To Trial

Public Safety Labor News, Sexual Harassment

Toni Duncan, a corrections deputy for Dakota County, Nebraska, sued the County for hostile work environment sexual harassment. The County sought summary judgment in the case, arguing that Duncan’s evidence was insufficient to allow the case to go to trial. In opposing summary judgment, Duncan testified that rumors of sexual activity permeated the job. She…

Calling Female Officer ‘Darling’ Does Not Amount To Sexual Harassment

Discrimination, Gender Discrimination, Public Safety Labor News, Sexual Harassment

Stormy Magiera works for the Dallas, Texas Police Department. Magiera and a fellow officer, Sergeant Ingram, responded to a nightclub where they had heard a gunshot. Ingram became irritated at how Magiera was processing the scene, and asked her to “speed the process up and issue some people some tickets so they could get out…