5/6/22, 10:43 PM NYPD’s former highest-ranking woman settles gender discrimination suit for $275k – New York Daily

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NYPD’s former highest-ranking woman settles gender

discrimination suit for $275k
By Molly Crane-Newman
New York Daily News • May 06, 2022 at 6:23 pm

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The former highest-ranking woman in the NYPD has settled a gender

discrimination suit against the city for $275,000. Privacy - Terms

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5/6/22, 10:43 PM NYPD’s former highest-ranking woman settles gender discrimination suit for $275k – New York Daily News

Ex-NYPD Chief Lori Pollock alleged the department has a glass ceiling that
prevents women from ascending to the most prestigious positions. She accused
former Commissioner Dermot Shea of “blatant gender-based treatment.”

Pollock is one of just five women in the department’s 176-year history who
reached the rank of five-star chief.

Deputy Chief Lori Pollock on February 5, 2019. (Jesse Ward/for New York Daily News)

“I absolutely loved being a member of the New York Police Department in every
capacity. It was a great career,” Pollock told the Daily News Friday, holding back
tears. “It is a little emotional for me.

“I am glad I’ve moved forward with this lawsuit. It was not easy. Today, I feel
vindicated. I feel I made my point. The money was less important to me than
actually bringing attention to the issue of less than equal opportunities for
women in the New York City police department.”
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5/6/22, 10:43 PM NYPD’s former highest-ranking woman settles gender discrimination suit for $275k – New York Daily News

The veteran cop, who joined the NYPD in 1987, said she was forced into
retirement not long after being demoted from chief of crime control strategies —
as the first woman to hold the position — to head collaborative policing.

Her lawsuit described consistently being undermined by male brass, all the way
to the top. She said Shea of stared at his phone during her first presentation to
him and that he humiliated her at a meeting before 30 department executives.

“Hey, Lori, how do you like it at the other end of the table?” Shea allegedly yelled
at Pollock from across the room. Before the demotion, she had sat three seats
down from the commissioner.

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea listens to other officers speak during a press conference outside Transit
District 1 at Columbus Circle Friday, May 14, 2021 in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/for New York
Daily News)

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5/6/22, 10:43 PM NYPD’s former highest-ranking woman settles gender discrimination suit for $275k – New York Daily News

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Law Department spokesman Nick Paolucci said the lawsuit was settled in the
city’s best interest and that the NYPD maintains it did nothing wrong.

“It’s a great day for Lori Pollock and it’s a great day for the young women that
come behind her,” said Pollock’s attorney Colleen Meenan. “She brought light to
a very important issue that’s been for too long a dirty secret within the New York
City police department.”

Pollock said she believes that her suit, as well as others filed by former high-
ranking women, contributed to Mayor Adams’ historic appointment of NYPD
Commissioner Keechant Sewell.

“I couldn’t be more happy to see Commissioner Sewell as the first female police
commissioner,” Pollock said.

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