Federal Lawsuit Filed Against Former Bridgeport Deputy Police Chief Over Harassment and Retaliation Claims
A former police department employee has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that she lost her job after reporting that she was sexually harassed by ex-Deputy Police Chief James Baraja, CTPost reported.
The federal complaint, filed in Bridgeport federal court on Oct. 22 by plaintiff’s attorney John Bochanis, states that the harassment caused the employee to suffer extreme humiliation, mental anxiety and emotional distress.
The legal action names Baraja, Police Chief Roderick Porter, and the police department as defendants, seeking at least $15,000 in monetary damages, back pay, attorney fees, and costs associated with her job search following what the complaint describes as a wrongful dismissal.
Unwanted Advances and Internal Affairs Allegations
According to court documents, the alleged harassment included uninvited visits to the employee’s home, unwanted gifts, phone calls outside of work hours, comments on her appearance, and requests to be introduced to her younger sister. The employee submitted a formal complaint to the internal affairs division of the police department in early 2023, detailing a pattern of inappropriate behavior.
Following that internal report, the lawsuit claims the employee was transferred to a different department that required weekend work. This shift conflicted with a previously negotiated hardship agreement ensuring her position would not include weekend hours. The federal complaint characterizes the transfer as retaliatory and accuses the defendants of creating a hostile work environment.
Withheld Internal Probe and Outstanding Responses
A law firm, Jackson Lewis, finalized an internal investigation report regarding the probe last November. However, city officials have declined to publicly release the document, arguing that it is protected by attorney-client privilege.
Legal representation for the defendants has not immediately addressed the allegations in court filings. A lawyer for Baraja declined to comment on Thursday, and attorneys representing the other defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The lawsuit does not detail the specific circumstances surrounding the employee’s ultimate dismissal from the department.
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