SVU cop claims boss groped her

EAST ORANGE -- An East Orange police officer is suing the city, police department, and one of her bosses, claiming that he sexually harassed, groped, and tried to kiss her at police headquarters.

According to a complaint filed last week in Superior Court, the woman, a detective in the Special Victims Unit, was in the elevator at police headquarters on Sept. 2 with one of her superiors when he groped her and tried to kiss her neck. The supervisor had previously made unwanted advances and comments to the woman, the complaint states.

The detective, who is still employed by the department, but is on leave because of the alleged incident, reported the alleged assault to other superiors in the department, the suit says. Though the detective was never contacted about an investigation into the alleged altercation, city officials later told her that there was insufficient evidence to find that sexual harassment had occurred, the complaint says.

The detective's attorney, R. Armen McOmber, described the superior as a "predator" who has been accused of sexual harassment by female officers in the past. According to the complaint, the city in 2014 reached a $200,000 settlement with another female officer who claimed that the same supervisor masturbated in front of her.

Despite the alleged incidents, "the East Orange Police Department has employed, continues to employ, and in fact has promoted," the supervisor, McOmber said in a statement to NJ Advance Media.

"My client, a respected special victims unit detective, immediately reported the assault to her superiors and to human resources," he said. "Rather than taking any action whatsoever, the City of East Orange and the police department have determined to continue their outrageous policy of ignoring (this man's) conduct and returning him to work."

Due to the nature of the allegations, the names of the detective and supervisor have been withheld by NJ Advance Media.

A spokeswoman for the city said Monday that it had not yet been served with the complaint, but that it could not comment on pending litigation and personnel matters.

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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