GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – A Green Bay Police Officer has filed a discrimination complaint against the city.
Officer Stephanie Dantoin, 28, alleges she was the subject of “severe or pervasive harassment” for more than a year.
In a complaint filed with the Department of Workforce Development and the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Dantoin’s attorney Paul Kinne details six examples of harassment.
The description of each incident includes one of two officers who resigned from the department late last year after an internal investigation into harassment allegations was launched.
Alleged transgressions inlcude: the former officer pushing Dantoin out of the way, the former officer taking Dantoin’s handcuffs and either losing or destroying them, and the former officer and other unnamed officers insulting Dantoin for not being married, referring to her as a “crazy single cat lady.”
The complaint states Dantoin complained to two supervisors on numerous occasions, but neither of them reportedly took any action to quell the behavior.
The Department of Workforce Development sent a letter to the city on June 21, stating it has until July 21 to respond to the complaint.
Green Bay Police has not wrapped up its internal investigation.
Chief Andrew Smith says there is no timeline for when it will be finished.
“(The investigation) is very thorough and very detailed. We want to make sure we get everything right.”
Smith says he cannot comment on Dantoin’s complaint.
“Because the investigation is ongoing and the city attorney is looking at the allegations that were made, obviously we can’t discuss that until the complaint is done. Once the complaint is completed and penalties, if there are any, have been assessed, then that complete complaint is going to be made public to everybody.”
Smith has a message for the public.
“I assure you the police department has zero tolerance for harassment or discrimination of any kind. We’ve got a great bunch of officers here, men and women, out there every day and every night, working hard, treating each other and the public right. That’s not stopping the good work that’s getting done by our department every day.”
