Two NYPD officers have hired a lawyer and claim they were being sexually harassed by their supervisor. The two officers wish to remain anonymous, are from the 103rd precinct in Jamaica, Queens and say Lt. Jason Margolis, should no longer be allowed to supervise them pending an investigation. Hit the jump to read the rest of the story.
The officers claim Margolis is known around the precinct for hitting on female subordinates despite him being married with kids.
“He’s asked me several times to go to his home. He’s also asked was I interested in white men or is it because he’s married that I wouldn’t go out with him,†one of the officers said.
One officer stated she pursued her sexual harassment complaint internally with the NYPD and the investigation was closed. She contends the harassment has continued, and she is now being retaliated against.
She has filed a discrimination complaint with the NYS Division of Human Rights dated November 8, 2011.
“Margolis has made the statement that, if I learned how to play the game — meaning, if I accepted his advances, sexual advances towards me — then most of my problems would go away,†the first officer said.
The second female officer says she has also been sexually harassed by Margolis and came forward after hearing about the treatment of the first officer. This second officer has filed an internal complaint with the NYPD, Rivera reports.
“They could have at least removed him from the 103 Precinct so that we can go to work comfortably,†one of the female officers told Rivera. One of the officers, aged 28, says it got so bad she thought about turning in her badge.
Lawyers for the officers claim one of them was put in a dangerous spot by herself, despite a department requirement that two officers be present.
“Unfortunately they’re in the position where, if they say ‘no,’ to a supervisor’s orders, to a lieutenant’s orders, they can be automatically suspended,†Attorney JoAnn Squillace told CBS 2′s Pablo Guzman.
NYPD Spokesman Paul Browne told Rivera, â€The complaints of the two officers are under active investigation.†1010 WINS has also attempted to reach Lt. Margolis for comment.
“I feel like something has to be done. It’s been too long. Something has to be done. I don’t want to go back to work,â€one of the officers said.
