Brattleboro police officer alleges gender discrimination

BRATTLEBORO — In a civil suit filed in federal court, a long-time Brattleboro police officer alleges she was subjected to "unlawful workplace discrimination" based on her gender.

Sgt. Penny Witherbee filed the lawsuit Monday in United States District Court for the District of Vermont, listing as defendants the town of Brattleboro, the Brattleboro Police Department, Town Manager Peter Elwell, Assistant Town Manager Patrick Moreland, Police Chief Michael Fitzgerald and Police Capt. Mark Carignan.

Witherbee, who was originally hired as a patrol officer in 2002, claims she was subjected to unwanted sexual advances by Carignan and Moreland and denied promotions due to her gender. In the lawsuit she alleges "disparate treatment in that she has been denied bonus payments received by similarly situated male colleagues" and has been subjected to discipline for conduct that "similarly situated male colleagues regularly engaged in without incurring discipline." She also claims she was "subjected to continual and frequent pejorative insults on the basis of her gender," according to the suit.

Witherbee is seeking "appropriate injunctive relief, compensatory and punitive damages" as well as costs and attorney fees associated with the lawsuit. Susan Edwards, of Wells, is representing her.

Read more: https://www.reformer.com/stories/officer-alleges-discrimination,544929?