By Muri Assunção
New York Daily News
BOSTON — The city of Boston has reached a $2.4 million settlement with a high-ranking female police officer who sued the department over what she described as a “pattern” of gender discrimination and retaliation within the department, her lawyer said Wednesday.
Beth Donovan, the first woman to reach the rank of deputy superintendent of the Police Department’s Field Services Bureau, alleged the discrimination she faced led to a demotion and a suspension, according to the lawsuit filed in Boston Federal Court in late 2020, the Boston Herald reported.
Her lawyer Nick Carter said that Donovan is “pleased” with the agreement. He also confirmed a formal agreement is being drafted.
“Beth Donovan took on the Boston Police Department simply to demand fair treatment as a woman leader there. She is pleased with the result and hopes this helps women who remain at the BPD and those who come after,” he said in a statement.
“Hopefully with Donovan’s case and some of the other women who have recently been successful in suing for discrimination … the BPD will start to change and women won’t be punished for demanding fair and equal treatment.”
According to the employment discrimination lawsuit, Donovan said she was demoted from deputy superintendent to sergeant in 2018 and was later placed on administrative leave “in retaliation for filing complaints” against a lieutenant she said had assaulted her.
Donovan’s troubles started a year earlier after she initiated an internal affairs investigation against a fellow police officer, according to court records reviewed by The Boston Globe.
She alleges the officer tossed a beer can at her and hurled profanities at her during a graduation party.
The ensuing investigation into the male officer sparked retaliation against Donovan — including the spreading of rumors she had a drinking problem — the suit alleged.
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