#124: 04-8-99: JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FILES SUIT AGAINST THE CITY OF BELEN, NEW MEXICO ALLEGING SEXUAL HARASSMENT, SEX DISCRIMINATION, AND RETALIATION IN THE CITY'S POLICE DEPARTMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CR
THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1999
(202) 616-2777
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
TDD (202) 514-1888
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FILES SUIT AGAINST THE CITY OF BELEN, NEW MEXICO ALLEGING SEXUAL HARASSMENT, SEX DISCRIMINATION, AND RETALIATION IN THE CITY'S POLICE DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The city of Belen, New Mexico, was sued today by the
Justice Department for allegedly creating a sexually hostile work environment against female
employees of the local police department.
The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque, alleges that the city violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by creating and condoning sexual harassment and a sexually hostile work environment against women in the Belen Police Department. The complaint also alleges that the city subjected former Sergeant Terry Piersol to sex discrimination and retaliation when it suspended and then terminated her in February 1996.
Sergeant Piersol, who was the only female officer in the Police Department during her tenure there, was terminated less than two months after she helped two female dispatchers bring complaints of sexual harassment to the attention of the former Chief of Police. Sergeant Piersol originally filed a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which investigated the matter and found reasonable cause to believe Sergeant Piersol's allegations were true before referring it to the Justice Department.
"The Justice Department is committed to eradicating sexual harassment, sex discrimination, and retaliation from the nation's police departments," said Bill Lann Lee, Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. "All employees are entitled to a workplace free of discrimination. The Justice Department will not tolerate any form of discrimination and will ensure that it does not occur in the future."
The complaint asks the court to enter an order preventing the city from subjecting women to sexual harassment and a sexually hostile work environment in the city's Police Department. It also asks the court to require the city to promptly and effectively investigate and prevent any future allegations of misconduct. In addition, the Justice Department is asking that the city pay an unspecified amount in damages to former Sergeant Piersol.
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