Bronx, NY: A female NYPD sergeant filed a bombshell lawsuit claiming her superiors spied on her and other female officers through a makeshift peephole leading into a changing area.
In a scene straight out of an 80's movie, a manufactured peephole was made in a wall using a drill, which housed an electronic cable behind a computer desk nearby. However, the wire went nowhere, which revealed a perverse, deviant purpose, the lawsuit suggests.
The complainant, now retired Sgt. Joleen Lozano, discovered the peephole in a common area office within the Evidence Collection Unit, where other supervisors shared space in a precinct in the South Bronx, according to documents.
The lawsuit was filed by attorney John Scola, who wrote Sgt. Lozano was “getting ready to log into the computer and charge her phone " when she noticed that there was a hole drilled into the wall, which allowed anyone in the supervisors’ office to look into the locker room through the peephole.”
Scola added that the wire wasn’t connected to anything and “went nowhere.”
“The male supervisors of the unit would watch . . . the other supervisors of the command change in the locker room,” according to Scola’s legal filing.
Scola added, “These brave women reported rampant sexual harassment within the NYPD’s Bronx Evidence Collection Unit, only to face retaliation and punitive discipline from a chain of command that shielded the harassers.”
It was then reported that Lozano installed a metal plate over the peephole and reported the incident to the Internal Affairs bureau.
An internal sexual harassment complaint was also filed on behalf of Lozano and several other female officers against a male supervisor. The lawsuit stated that the male supervisor referred to Lozano as “Sergeant Ass” and “Sergeant Lips” in front of others in the precinct.
The other subordinates reported to Lozano that the male supervisor frequently made sexually charged and degrading comments to them, according to documents obtained by the NY Post.
The case has morphed into other issues. It was later reported that Lozano found a doll of a rat in her desk.
A second lawsuit was filed by another female officer, OFC. V. Sanchez, against the same male supervisor late last year as well.
Sanchez’s lawsuit wrote that the male supervisor “would frequently harass the female officers, saying he could ‘see their vaginas’ because their cargo pants were so tight” and “when he mimics the women, he pulls his cargo uniform pants up, exposing his penis and testicles.”
The NY Post reached out to the male supervisor for comments on the allegations against him.
It was reported that his only response to the media company was, “I really have no comment because the lawsuit is all fake stuff.”
The NYPD issued a public statement regarding the allegations and said they are internally reviewing them.
A spokesperson said, “The Department does not tolerate sexual harassment and is committed to respectful work environments for our diverse workforce. The NYPD thoroughly investigates all complaints it receives and offers several reporting options for NYPD employees, including anonymously.”
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Writer Eddie Molina is a veteran and has over 25 years of combined LEO/military service. He owns and operates the LEO apparel and accessory company www.BuyHeroStuff.com
In a scene straight out of an 80's movie, a manufactured peephole was made in a wall using a drill, which housed an electronic cable behind a computer desk nearby. However, the wire went nowhere, which revealed a perverse, deviant purpose, the lawsuit suggests.
The complainant, now retired Sgt. Joleen Lozano, discovered the peephole in a common area office within the Evidence Collection Unit, where other supervisors shared space in a precinct in the South Bronx, according to documents.
The lawsuit was filed by attorney John Scola, who wrote Sgt. Lozano was “getting ready to log into the computer and charge her phone " when she noticed that there was a hole drilled into the wall, which allowed anyone in the supervisors’ office to look into the locker room through the peephole.”
Scola added that the wire wasn’t connected to anything and “went nowhere.”
“The male supervisors of the unit would watch . . . the other supervisors of the command change in the locker room,” according to Scola’s legal filing.
Scola added, “These brave women reported rampant sexual harassment within the NYPD’s Bronx Evidence Collection Unit, only to face retaliation and punitive discipline from a chain of command that shielded the harassers.”
It was then reported that Lozano installed a metal plate over the peephole and reported the incident to the Internal Affairs bureau.
An internal sexual harassment complaint was also filed on behalf of Lozano and several other female officers against a male supervisor. The lawsuit stated that the male supervisor referred to Lozano as “Sergeant Ass” and “Sergeant Lips” in front of others in the precinct.
The other subordinates reported to Lozano that the male supervisor frequently made sexually charged and degrading comments to them, according to documents obtained by the NY Post.
The case has morphed into other issues. It was later reported that Lozano found a doll of a rat in her desk.
A second lawsuit was filed by another female officer, OFC. V. Sanchez, against the same male supervisor late last year as well.
Sanchez’s lawsuit wrote that the male supervisor “would frequently harass the female officers, saying he could ‘see their vaginas’ because their cargo pants were so tight” and “when he mimics the women, he pulls his cargo uniform pants up, exposing his penis and testicles.”
The NY Post reached out to the male supervisor for comments on the allegations against him.
It was reported that his only response to the media company was, “I really have no comment because the lawsuit is all fake stuff.”
The NYPD issued a public statement regarding the allegations and said they are internally reviewing them.
A spokesperson said, “The Department does not tolerate sexual harassment and is committed to respectful work environments for our diverse workforce. The NYPD thoroughly investigates all complaints it receives and offers several reporting options for NYPD employees, including anonymously.”
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Writer Eddie Molina is a veteran and has over 25 years of combined LEO/military service. He owns and operates the LEO apparel and accessory company www.BuyHeroStuff.com
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