FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NYPD Officer Files $15 Million Claim Against The City Alleging Her Supervisor Invited Her to Engage In A Threesome With Him
New York, March 27, 2017 – Police Officer Maribel Sarante, 7th Precinct alleges since Early 2015, her direct supervisor Sergeant Freddy Lopez made several inappropriate sexual remarks and advances towards her including: inviting her to engage in a threesome with him, his wife gives him no ass, Sarante gets no dick, I would’ve taken care of you if you drove me, etc., according to the claim.
Over the years, Ms. Sarante alleges Sergeant Lopez made inappropriate sexual remarks and advances towards other female officers including on another occasion, he ordered Police Officer Sherice Smiling to go upstairs to the female locker room and tell Police Officer Erica Rivera to “stop playing with her pussy and report to the Desk.”
According to the claim, in response to Sarante’s rejection, Sergeant Lopez and other police supervisors including Sergeant Hyon Chae would change her assignments, fail to notify her about changes in assignments, ultimately re-assigning her to work the late tours to make her workplace intolerable. Additionally, Sergeant Lopez and Police Officer Jennifer Kielb (Lopez’s paramour) began making false allegations against Sarante in an attempt to have her arrested, suspended and transferred.
On another occasion, Sarante alleges while in Roll Call, Sergeant Lopez took out a mousetrap and threw it to the floor and started laughing. Sarante alleges during another Roll Call, Sergeant Lopez placed a plastic glove on his hand and stated paraphrase “I’m here to do a Cavity Search. Who wants one?” He then picked up two apples and one banana to form the shape of a penis, while laughing stated paraphrase “Who wants a banana?”
Over the years, Sarante alleges she has filed several complaints with the NYPD Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and each time they claimed her complaints ‘did not rise to the level of employment discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights of 1964, or applicable state or local laws.’ Sarante claims, “The NYPD OEEO does not take complaints seriously.”
Recently, Police Officer Klieb and Sergeant Lopez, filed a false complaint against Sarante claiming she assaulted Klieb in the Desk Area with a chair.
Sarante alleges since Early 2015, Commanding Officer Captain Steven M. Hellman, Integrity Control Officer Lieutenant Clarence Dawson, Platoon Commander Lieutenant Edward Carrasco, and Sergeant Hyon Chae knew Sergeant Lopez and Police Officer Klieb created a hostile work environment for her but did nothing to protect her.
“Unfortunately, sexual harassment, other forms of discrimination and retaliation are commonplace within the NYPD. Officer Sarante is to be commended for exposing this boorish behavior in the workplace,” says Eric Sanders.
Eric Sanders, Esq., of The Sanders Firm, P.C., filed the Notice of claim with the New York City Comptroller’s Office on March 21, 2017, Claim No.: 201700032263.
ABOUT THE SANDERS FIRM, P.C.
The Sanders Firm, P.C. offers those in the New York City area legal services related and connected to civil rights, civil service rights, criminal law and discrimination. We firmly believe in everyone’s individual rights that are described and guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America. We understand that our freedoms and liberties are sacrosanct and that they have been won in many and various hard-fought battles. We are committed in every way to protecting your civil rights. We are your voice for justice!
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