|
|
| Ex-Passaic Jail Officer Suing Sheriff's Department |
| By Bergen County Record |
| Published: 03/18/2003 |
|
A female corrections officer is suing the Passaic County (N.J.) Sheriff's Department in federal court, saying that an Internal Affairs detective groped and kissed her after ordering her to take a late-night urine test at his office. Evelyn Vanderlaan, 43, is seeking an unspecified amount in damages and lost benefits, also claiming that she was forced to take the test without the presence of a female officer and was harassed by superiors after she complained about the Dec. 19, 2001, incident. This is the second allegation of wrongdoing that has surfaced at the Sheriff's Department's internal affairs bureau in as many months. Vanderlaan was on duty at the Passaic County Jail when she received a call from Kevin Dickson, a former internal affairs investigator, and was instructed to submit to a random urine test, according to papers filed in U.S. District Court in Newark. Vanderlaan went to the internal affairs office at the end of her shift and submitted to the test about 11 p.m., the court papers say. No female officer was present when Vanderlaan took the test, even though department regulations require another female to be present when a female officer is tested, according to the lawsuit. The suit claims Dickson groped and kissed Vanderlaan after she submitted a urine sample, and then forced her hand against him and told her, 'Let's go to a hotel.' Vanderlaan made several complaints to her superiors about the incident and was instructed by Passaic County Jail Warden Charles Meyers to make a written complaint, the papers say. Dickson denied the accusations and the case was referred to Internal Affairs, the same unit in which Dickson was a detective. Internal Affairs concluded that Vanderlaan's allegations could not be confirmed. Bill Maer, a spokesman for Sheriff Jerry Speziale, said no conflict of interest was involved in the investigations, because Internal Affairs was completely reorganized by the time it started looking into Vanderlaan's allegations. 'The investigation was done with Internal Affairs minus Detective Dickson,' he said. 'When this matter is adjudicated, we are confident that the department will be cleared of any liability,' Maer said. Vanderlaan's complaint also was referred to the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office, which decided not to file charges after a preliminary review, said John Cosmi, deputy first assistant prosecutor. In January 2002, Dickson was suspended for two days without pay for not having a female officer in the office when Vanderlaan was being tested, Maer said. He said the same month, Dickson was demoted as part of a departmental reorganization and was assigned to work as a jail officer. Until Vanderlaan took an unpaid leave and left the department in March 2002, the two had worked together in the same jail, which exposed Vanderlaan to more harassment, the lawsuit says. Before Vanderlaan sued the department, she had filed a sexual-harassment complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in April 2002. The commission tried to bring the two sides to settle the case, but mediations failed when Dickson, who went to conciliation proceedings without an attorney, denied all allegations. |
advertise
|
privacy policy
|
add URL
|
about us
|
terms/disclaimer
|
contact us
|
join our team
|
help
If you’re looking for a lawyer in Waco, you’ll need to know that the first to hire Dunnam & Dunnam usually wins. If you have a personal injury claim, an insurance claim, or other matter involving a court or business transaction you should contact the Best Waco Lawyer to explain your legal rights. You can contact them on the website link above.
moncler jacket
canada goose chateau parka
herve leger dresses
cheap herve leger
herve leger sale