NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — An NYPD captain who had sued the department alleging a higher up buried her discrimination complaint before being caught posting racist messages online has settled with the city for $800,000, according to a report.
NYPD Captain Sharon Balli sued the department in 2020 for $5 million, saying Deputy Inspector James Kobel put off investigating allegations that she experienced sexism while working at Manhattan South’s Narcotics unit and suffered retaliation when she complained, according to the Daily News.
The paper reported that as he put off investigating, he also tipped off the targets of the allegations and was then promoted to commander of the NYPD’s Equal Employment Opportunity unit.
However, in November 2020 it was revealed Kobel was using an online pseudonym to post obscene and racist messages on an online forum frequented by current and retired police officers, the Daily News reported.
He was fired by NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea in February 2021.
The Daily News reports that Balli claimed higher ups in Manhattan narcotics would make inappropriate comments regarding sex and at least one coworker would boast about paying for sexual intercourse while traveling abroad. When she complained, she was allegedly told to “Stand down and stay in your lane.”
Following her complaint, Balli said coworkers retaliated by breaking her computer and phone and filing another complaint against her for installing a small security camera by her desk, the paper reported.
John Scola, an attorney for Balli, told the Daily News that they are hopeful the lawsuit will now result in punishments for those who wronged her.
“We hope that this lawsuit will lead to the punishment of the people responsible and the review of all cases overseen by Kobel while he commanded the NYPD’s Equal Employment office,” he said.
A New York City Law Department spokesperson told the paper that the settlement was in the best interests of both the city and Balli.
Balli will be leaving the NYPD in April 2022, according to the report.
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