TOPEKA (KSNT) – A Topeka Police Department officer has filed a second federal lawsuit against the city accusing the police department of discriminating against female officers and creating a hostile work environment.
The filing comes just days before the start of the federal trial of on a 2023 discrimination case against the City of Topeka and former Topeka Police Chief Bryan Wheeles.
In this latest lawsuit, filed on Sept. 13, Topeka Police Captain Jennifer Cross claimed the officers who filed the original discrimination case have been retaliated against since that filing. She continued to allege female officers in the Topeka Police Department are treated negatively in such a way that is discriminatory and creates a hostile work environment.
Cross was one of three female administrators who filed the initial discrimination case. In August, U.S. District Judge John Broomes wrote the plaintiffs failed to provide evidence they were not promoted because of their sex and that Wheeles is entitled to qualified immunity on those claims.
In this new lawsuit, Cross detailed allegations of discrimination she said she faced during an investigation into her alleged workplace bullying of a subordinate officer. She claimed the investigation was conducted in a way to ensure its outcome. Cross said the selection of witnesses, duration of the investigation, lack of communication and inconsistent treatment of the parties involved were retaliatory in nature.
Cross claimed the lieutenant who accused her of workplace bullying and another lieutenant involved in the investigation lied to ensure the grievance against her would be substantiated. She also accused Wheeles and now Interim Police Chief Jamey Haltom of turning a blind eye to evidence she did not violate policy or bully the subordinate officer.
Cross reiterated and added to claims made in the 2023 lawsuit that the police department discriminates against female officers and creates a hostile work environment. She accused the City of Topeka of violating Title VII by allowing officers to retaliate against her and other female administrators following the filing of the 2023 lawsuit. She also filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Cross asked that this latest lawsuit be taken to trial. The federal jury trial in the 2023 discrimination lawsuit is set to begin on Sept. 16.
KSNT 27 News has reached out to the City of Topeka for comment but had not yet received a response by the time this report was filed.
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