A female officer assigned as the Hartford Police Department’s LGBTQ liaison says her sexual harassment complaint against a fellow officer has been largely ignored, calling into question the treatment of women in the department amid a perceived “Good Ol’ Boys” mentality.
Officer Kelly Baerga sent a memo to Hartford’s human resources director on Monday asking human resources to monitor her assignments and offer protections given the failures of the department’s administration.
“How can an officer begin to trust the system and feel valued if the very supervisors, who govern the agency, fall short of their roles, and minimize sensitive events, regarding women in a predominantly male profession?” Baerga wrote to Cherese Chery, the city’s HR chief. “This incident was a clear indication of this agencies [sic] administration lack of maturity, professionalism, profession, and inclusion constructing an environment that is reminiscent of the start of the women’s rights movement.”
Throughout the nine-page memo, Baerga details incidents involving inappropriate sexual comments made by a fellow officer at work events the two attended and at a lunch at a Hartford restaurant attended by a recruiter from the Connecticut state police.
The officer’s comments and behavior got worse over the time they worked together, Baerga wrote. She also referenced inappropriate comments he made about her during the lunch with the state police trooper that she believed were made in an effort to “out” her,” according to the memo.
In the roughly nine months since her complaint, Baerga said she has not learned of any disposition, has not been interviewed by internal affairs investigators, and the department has not kept the officer accused of sexually harassing her from contacting her.
Baerga, who has been a Hartford police officer for more than eight years, was named the LGBTQ liaison in 2017. She did not return a request for comment Friday.
Jimmy Sanchez, the city council’s majority leader and chair of the council’s public safety subcommittee, has read the memo sent by Baerga and said he spoke with police administration, who assured him they quickly transferred the officer after the complaint was made.
“[The officer] was reassigned to the South District as soon as this information was given to [Assistant Chief Rafael Medina],” Sanchez said. “I am satisfied with what he has done.”
Sanchez said the matter remains under investigation, and he has asked the department to share the results publicly when the probe is finished. Medina did not respond to a request for comment.
“My administration does not tolerate harassment of any kind by anyone,” Mayor Luke Bronin said in a written statement. “While the accused officer was reassigned to a different unit the same day the initial complaint was made, and a formal investigation was initiated immediately, we have a fundamental obligation not only to be thorough, but also to be swift, in investigating and acting upon all harassment complaints of any kind.
“In this specific case, it’s clear that we need to streamline and improve an investigative process that relies on both our HR department and the Police Department’s internal affairs division. To ensure greater clarity and speed in the future, the city will be engaging an independent third party to support the city’s investigations into allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination, and hostile work environment, citywide.”
Bronin denied Baerga’s claim that the officer was being protected because he was a supporter of the mayor and had appeared with him when he recently announced his re-election plans.
“In a city where ‘who you know’ used to matter a lot, we’ve worked hard to build a culture where personnel decisions and personnel actions are based solely on merit,” Bronin said. “There has not been and will never be preferential treatment or favoritism for this officer or any other employee within my administration.”
Sgt. John Szewcyzk, the president of the police department’s union, called into question the handling of the complaint.
“We are extremely disappointed with the police department administration response to the entire situation,” he said.
Baerga wrote in May 2018 she was brought in to speak with Medina, who reassured her that the officer would be removed from her unit, but he could not prevent contact entirely because they were both sworn officers.
Not long after this meeting, Medina and Deputy Chief Dustin Rendock asked to speak to the officer, who worked next to Baerga in the chief’s complex. After meeting with Medina, the officer went to Baerga’s desk and demanded to talk, she wrote in the memo.
After she was confronted by the officer on back-to-back days, Baerga, who worked next to the officer in the chief’s complex, spoke with Medina and said she did not feel safe, according to the memo. Medina told Baerga that the officer was told to stay away from her.
Less than a week later, Baerga wrote that she was called to speak with Chery about the issue. After discussing the matter, Chery told Baerga that she would inform her of the disposition and suggestions to the department after she completed her investigation, according to the memo.
Nine months later, after an unrelated meeting, Chery approached Baerga and asked how she was doing. Baerga wrote in that memo that she told Chery the officer had not been disciplined, her safety had not been ensured and she was still attending training with the officer.
Baerga wrote that Chery said she had suggested some solutions to the department and was unsure why nothing had been implemented.
“I informed Mrs. Chery that this is exactly how the department deals with conduct unbecoming; they don’t deal with it at all. They move people to different divisions in hopes that the problem will be forgotten and the victims who are unrepresented, exhaust themselves fighting a battle that will never be justified with discipline.”
Nicholas Rondinone can be reached at nrondinone@courant.com.
