Cop Suspended in Retaliation For Him Reporting That His Supervisor Had Been Sexually Harassing Women

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Cop Suspended in Retaliation For Him Reporting That His Supervisor Had Been Sexually Harassing Women

November 6th, 2017

Awake Goy

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A new lawsuit has been filed against the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, the sheriff, his then-chief deputy, and the Madison County Commission by a longtime deputy who claims he was punished for aiding a female colleague facing sexual harassment at work.

Deputy Gregory Gray, a veteran member of the office’s SWAT team, alleges he was discriminated against and faced retailiation for attempting to help then-Deputy Shelby Holt.

Holt has also sued claiming she was fired for reporting harassment by a supervisor.

That lawsuit alleges that Holt faced numerous instances of sexual harassment and that male deputies who engaged in a variety of sexual misbehaviors did not face discipline. Gray’s lawsuit repeats those claims.

The lawsuit, filed Friday, contends that Gray had advised Holt -– while she was still employed — to report the harassment to her supervisors, that he spoke to his colleagues about her situation and that he called a non-emergency number to get her assistance after she showed signs of distress.

“The retaliation and discrimination against Deputy Gray has had a chilling effect on employees of the Sheriff’s Dept. reporting and complaining about violations of the policies and procedures of the Sheriff’s Dept., Madison County, and the Commission; violations of Title VII protections; and, violations of the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution – the Fourteenth Amendment,” the lawsuit argues.

“The retaliation and discrimination against Deputy Gray has sent a signal everyone else working in the Sheriff’s Dept. that if they complain about and report sexual harassment, discrimination based on sex, etc. that they will face some form of punishment and retaliation.”

The lawsuit alleges that in August 2016 — the same day Holt hand-delivered a letter describing the harassment to Sheriff Blake Dorning, County Commission Chairman Dale Strong, and county personnel and legal staff members — Gray was placed on administrative leave. The lawsuit claims he was not given a reason for the paid leave.

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