SYRACUSE -- A longtime Syracuse Police officer has won a $650,000 discrimination lawsuit against the city and its police department.
20 year veteran officer Katherine Lee had taken the department to federal court, accusing senior members of the police force of discriminating against her because of internal complaints she had filed against other officers.
Lee was assaulted by another officer with whom she was having a personal relationship, and suffered post-traumatic stress disorder because of it. She had her service weapon taken away, and was not allowed to go back on duty, even after a doctor cleared her to go back on patrol.
The federal jury also found the Syracuse Police Department has a customary practice of retaliating against officers who file internal discrimination complaints.
CNY Central spoke to the City Corporation Counsel Juanita Perez Williams Tuesday afternoon for a response to the judgement. Perez Williams says the city will appeal the verdict, and in order to pay for a verdict of this amount the city would have to bond for it, or utilize funding that has already been allotted for other uses.
