Discrimination lawsuit filed against New Jersey State Police, report says

By: Amanda Wallace
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... Three retired female New Jersey state troopers and one active member filed a lawsuit against the New Jersey State Police department, accusing it of maintaining a gender bias that commonly prevents women from begin promoted, according to a New York Times investigation.
..... Dawn Curran, 53; Wanda Stojanov, 53; and Rebecca Hotchkin, 56, retied over the past year [2022] after decades of work with the department.
..... According to The New York Times' Tracey Tully, "the women's suit asserts broad, yearlong claims of a hostile work environment and a culture dominated by straight white men with unfettered power to promote their friends."
..... Hotchlin, who retired as a lieutenant said: "In the back of your mind, you keep saying, 'All right, they'll do the right thing next time,' or you know, 'I'll get the next promotion.' And you just wait and wait and it never happens," The Times reported.
..... The State Police Department has faced similar suits in the past with claims of discrimination made by other women as well as gay. Black and Latino officers.
..... State police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
..... The lawsuit has caught the attention of the U.S. Justice Department, which sent federal officials to Camden in September, [2023] where they met with U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger, former state trooper, civil rights leaders and lawyers. The are reportedly investigating the claims.
..... "We are never going to stop the cycle if we don't speak up," said former Major Stojanov.
..... Last year [2022] the department employed 174 female police officers, which is 5.6% of tis total 3,117 troopers.

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