North Liberty Police settle sexual harassment, retaliation discrimination claims

INDIANAPOLIS -- The North Liberty Police Department has settled a sexual harassment and retaliation discrimination charge with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The EEOC said its investigation found reasonable cause to believe the department subjected a police officer to a hostile work environment due to pervasive sexual harassment and that the officer was disciplined and forced to resign for making complaints about the sexual harassment.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees from sexual harassment and retaliation for reporting harassment.

The settlement agreement includes $12,000 for the employee who brought the complaint.

In addition, the department must revise its sex discrimination policies and procedures, and must provide compliance training on sex discrimination and sexual harassment, workplace civility training and bystander training on sex discrimination and sexual harassment.

"Sexual harassment continues to be an issue in the workforce, and around 70% of employees fail to complain about it due to fears, including fears of retaliation," said EEOC Indianapolis District Director Michelle Eisele. "Employers that review, update, and revise existing policies help their employees bring harassment issues to light so they can be resolved in the appropriate manner."