Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Pennsylvania

I believe I am being discriminated at my work force and I need some advice. I have been working as a police officer in the Pocono Pa area at this establishment for approximately 8 months. Everything was going fine until I got confronted with working overtime. I told the Sergeant if I do not have to I rather not work overtime because I already work 6 days a week with my court appearances.

He got upset at this comment and told me it did not look good, but I thought nothing further than that. A couple days go by and I was told that my reports from up to 7 months ago are getting kicked back because they are not right. I asked why would i be told now that the reports are not right after 7 months. He told me that it does not matter and they need to be fixed. They have to state reporting officer or responding officer. I talked to a bunch of the other guys and even look at their reports in which they were all written a different way.

He then confronts me about my time management and states that I have to speed it up I am to slow. I stated that I am always busy and love doing work in order to make the day go by quick instead of being bored. He informed me that I do not do any more work than the other officers. He posted a call sheet in which I responded to as many calls in 5 months at the other officers did in 1 year. This call volume turns into paperwork which needs to be put into the system which takes time.

Another couple days go by and he called me into the office again. He stated that the guys at work do not like me because I do not work overtime. I stated that I do not believe this just because I do not work overtime they do not like me. So now i left his office feeling odd because I felt uncomfortable working around the other guys.

A few days later he puts me back on field training for time management. I go back with a training officer and do alot of traffic detail work. Another couple days go by and he called me into his office. He asked how it was going in which I stated good. He then disagreed and stated that I do not bring the citation holder up to the motorist and some other petty thing with the warning card book. I never did this the whole time I was here and now it is a problem.

Another few days pass and we had a snow storm. I slipped in the parking lot and torn both meniscus areas in my knee. As a result I needed to get surgery for this issue. While I am waiting for about 3 weeks and have a doctors note stating that I cannot come to work, he keeps texting me stating that I have to come to work and do my paperwork. He knew that i was injured and was in pain getting around. He would not let me continue my court hearings which put me in more pain as I had to wait around for up to 2 hours until my case was held sometimes without having a seat.

He then called me and told me that he do not buy the fact that I am injured and doing work in my garage. He had the report from the doctor stating that I had a tear in my knee and needed surgery. I talked to him last night since I just had surgery this past Friday. He was pushing me to get my surgery done quick and get back to work this whole time. I had a follow up for my doctors appointment and a court hearing scheduled at the same time. I had another officer cover it for me in which he stated that I should have cancelled my doctors appointment and went to the hearing. He stated my priorities are with the station, in which I was upset and stated my health is my priority. He kept saying I cannot continue or cancel them in which he knows that I cannot even drive a vehicle, on medication and need assistance getting around with a cane.

I then saw a note posted through the computer to my Chief stating that I a gay officer and thanks for hiring me. I do not know who wrote it, but someone went into my report writing system and submitted this email for the chief and everyone else to see. My reports were also being altered and then being kicked back to me by the Corporal. Another unknown individual was going into my report writing system and signing my reports with different names and altering the content in which they would be kicked back.


Asked on 2/24/16, 4:14 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Solomon Weinstein Solomon Weinstein, Esquire

you should contact an employment lawyer to review your matter. If you are in the union you should take it up with the union representative. You also may contact the Pennsylvania Human Relations commission or the EEOC to see if there is a potential claim and if filing charges is in order. There are specific time periods from a discriminatory act in which you must act and file charges. You would be best advised to meet with an attorney to discuss your case.

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Answered on 2/25/16, 7:50 am


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