Thursday, February 04, 1999
Female officer files harassment complaint
BY WALT SCHAEFER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS — A female police officer, on medical leave since June, has filed a federal sexual harassment and job discrimination complaint against the village.
Michelle Johnson, 45, of Reading claims Police Chief Chuck Huff “condones” sexual harassment.
“Despite complaints to my sergeant about being physically touched on my rear end, the lewd (and) sexually offensive banter, pornographic magazines and the offensive comments made about female body parts and (Chief Huff's) attempt to get the male officers to cease such behavior, the behavior continues because the chief condones it,” Ms. Johnson said in a discrimination charge filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
In addition, Ms. Johnson, wife of Police Chief Ken Johnson in neighboring Lockland, claims in the charge filed Jan. 26 that the chief, with the approval of Mayor Glenn Allen, has discriminated against her “with regards to scheduling, availability of light duty and shift preference,” according to the EEOC charge.
Ms. Johnson and her attorney, William P. Whalen Jr., could not be reached for comment.
Ms. Johnson has been on medical leave and then workers' compensation since she reported she slipped on paper in a stairwell and injured herself on duty, officials said.
Chief Huff responded: “There is no sexual discrimination here. I do not know where she is coming up with this.”
The chief said he has no knowledge of sexual harassment in the department, and no complaints were brought to him by Sgt. Jackie Parsons, the only officer holding that rank
on the department of five full-time officers and an auxiliary of three.
Sgt. Parsons, who is on medical leave after an on-duty automobile accident on Interstate 75 in December, could not be reached for comment.
“I have not seen anything in this department except a Playboy magazine — nothing else that I know of,” Chief Huff said. “But remember, I'm not here all of the time and could have no knowledge of something that occurred if it was not reported to me.”
The chief said the department has an advisory about profanity, but no written sexual harassment policy.
“Believe me, I will develop one now,” Chief Huff said. “This has been reported in written form (to EEOC), and I need to do something about it. But personally, I don't think anything like this has ever occurred.”
City Law Director Terrence Ladrigan and the mayor declined to comment on the EEOC filing.
Village officials are required to answer the charges in writing to the EEOC. A hearing officer then will determine whether the charge has merit. If there appears to be cause for the complaint, the EEOC generally will release findings and recommendations to the parties and try to settle the issue. The EEOC could take the matter to federal court or Ms. Johnson could file a civil suit, officials said.
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