Nov 17, 2008 7:39 pm US/Eastern
Female Officers Win Suit Against Nassau Police
3 Female Detectives Awarded $1 Million By Long Island Jury
MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBS) ―
Three former detectives have won a $1 million lawsuit against the Nassau County Police Department. The women said they were subjected to rampant sexual harassment and discrimination.
A jury has just awarded three respected and decorated detectives, who have a combined 63 years on the force, a huge settlement following a six-week gender discrimination trial.
"The jury found the county liable for one million dollars in emotional damages," attorney Rick Ostrove said.
All three detectives served at the 8th Precinct in Levittown, where they claim nearly a dozen male colleagues posted pornography and graphic cartoons, disobeyed orders by women, and gave preferential treatment to men.
"It was like a frat house with a boys' club mentality," retired Det. Deirdre Ketchum said.
"It was like the inmates were running the prison," retired Det. Pamela Olsen said.
"You can't be friends with woman unless you want to have sex with her," retired Det. Noreen Cribben added.
According to the suit, the men over several years asked the women about their sexual practices, sent pornographic e-mails and left raunchy magazines around the station.
The female detectives told the jury about constant lewd remarks, such as:
"We need to take care of the boys."
"You are cranky because you need sex."
"Your ovaries have dried up."
Nassau's Police Commissioner Lawrence Mulvey, who was not on the force when the suit was brought, said new harassment and discrimination training is underway, and that this was not a widespread pattern of behavior, and will be appealed.
The women contended that because only 11 percent of Nassau's force is women, decisions on overtime, assignments and added training went against them and that they all were forced to retire early.
Mulvey was adamant, saying he has taken steps via training and supervisory instruction to strive for a workplace free of all forms of harassment and discrimination.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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