Ex-South Kingstown dispatcher alleges 'pervasive' sexual harassment by former lieutenant

PROVIDENCE – An unnamed former dispatcher for the South Kingstown Police Department is suing her one-time employer, alleging a lieutenant there subjected her to persistent sexual harassment and that her superiors retaliated against her when she complained.

The dispatcher, identified in the Jane Doe in the complaint, filed suit Thursday morning in U.S District Court, accusing the town of violating her civil rights and willfully causing her emotional distress by failing to address rampant sexual harassment and hostile working conditions.

Doe is seeking unspecified damages, plus back pay and pension benefits.

It is the second lawsuit to emerge from allegations surrounding then-Lt. Scott Orton’s “highly inappropriate and sexually harassing behavior with a newly hired female dispatcher.”

Earlier this year, South Kingstown Police Sgt. Michael Bronson sued the town, saying Orton retaliated against him after he reported Orton's alleged sexual harassment of a new dispatcher, with Orton even allegedly holding a gun to his head while stating "I should kick your ass." Bronson alleged that he was discriminated against and harassed in violation of the Rhode Island Whistleblowers' Protection Act over his reports and named as defendants the Town, former Town Manager Robert C. Zarnetske, Director of Administration Aimee Reiner and others.

Bronson, who joined the force in 2007, sought unspecified damages for the town’s “unlawful and discriminatory employment practices.”

The town has denied the allegations and argues that the defendants are shielded from liability by qualified immunity, which protects officials who perform their duties reasonably. The lawsuit remains pending in U.S. District Court in Providence.

Town Manager James Manni referred inquiries about the Doe case to the town solicitor. Incoming South Kingstown Police Chief Matthew Moynihan could not be immediately reached for comment.

Doe’s lawyer, Judah H. Rome, declined comment.

According to Doe’s complaint, she was hired as a dispatcher in 2018 at age 23 to work a 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift two days a week. A year later, she was brought on full-time, primarily to work the third shift.

She said that, almost immediately upon hiring, she began being subjected to sexual harassment and a hostile work environment at the hands of the third shift supervisor, Orton.

Doe accused Orton of acting inappropriately, making sexual advances and commenting on her appearance, as well engaging in unwanted touching and inappropriate gestures.

Doe said she hesitated initially to report Orton’s conduct for fear of retaliation, but that his behavior became so severe that Bronson intervened on her behalf.

According to the suit, Doe confronted Orton about his harassing behavior and reported it to the South Kingstown Police. In response, she said Orton began retaliating against her and treating her disparately.

Doe alleged the department initiated an internal affairs investigation that was “wholly inadequate” and placed Orton on leave. At its conclusion, Orton returned to duty without facing disciplinary consequences. She accused Orton and other high-ranking officers of engaging in a pattern of retaliation in the aftermath.

Among the allegations are that they refused to let her switch to the second shift, though she was contractually entitled to, that her superiors interfered with her days off, and that they released her name to the media instead of keeping her complaints confidential. In addition, she accused the department of failing to act on credible accusations of sexual harassment.

As a result, she said she was forced to resign her position in July “due to the toxic and hostile work environment,” and has suffered severe anxiety, stress, and panic attacks due to the conduct of high-ranking police officials, including, but not limited to, Orton and now Deputy Chief Alfred Bucco.

Orton filed retirement papers with the state in January 2020, the same week the South Kingstown Town Council revealed it had received demand letters from Bronson and the dispatcher threatening to sue over his behavior.

Doe accuses the town of violating the Rhode Island Whistleblowers’ Protection Act by discriminating against her based on her reports and asks the court to bar the defendant from engaging in such behavior.

In addition, Doe alleges unlawful discrimination, negligent infliction of emotional distress and violations of Title VII by tolerating pervasive sexual harassment that created a toxic work environment.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Sexual harassment lawsuit filed against former S. Kingston Police lieutenant