New Hampshire- Female officers protest handling of grope
Group demands no contact with lieutenant
From Seacoast online. By Elizabeth Dinan. edinan@seacoastonline.com. 06/23/07
Portsmouth - When Police Lt. Rodney McQuate grabbed a female officer's breast he displayed a "blatant disrespect of a female subordinate," according to four female members of the police detectives division who have requested McQuate have "no supervisory contact" with them "for any reason."
That request was made in a letter obtained by the Herald, addressed to Police Chief Michael Magnant and dated June 19. Signed by detectives Kristyn Bernier, Kimberly Sirr and Rebecca Hester, as well as administrative assistant Holly Fish, the women ask that McQuate communicate with them through specifically named third parties.
In their letter to the chief, the detectives and administrator call the breast-grabbing incident "appalling and egregious."
"We would like to express our dissatisfaction in not only McQuate's behavior but also the manner in which the Portsmouth Police Department chose to handle the situation," reads the memo. "This behavior was deliberate and absolutely unbecoming of an officer, let alone a lieutenant of the Portsmouth Police Department. This behavior and the disciplinary choice set forth would lead one to believe that respecting women in this department might not be a priority."
Magnant said McQuate was first suspended with pay for an unspecified period "pending the outcome of the investigation." The chief called the paid suspension "customary in serious internal investigation."
An unpaid suspension followed, according to the chief, who said the Herald's prior report that it was a three-day unpaid suspension is incorrect, though he declined the opportunity to correct the record.
"I'm informed that I am not allowed to release information contained in personnel files," he said.
Suggesting a union "fight" might have ensued "if a more aggressive stance was taken" with regard to McQuate's behavior, the four female police employees wrote to the chief that they "hope that the administration and police commission would have readily stood up and chosen to take on the fight to ensure that women in law enforcement are treated respectfully."
A notation indicates that Deputy Police Chief Len DiSesa and the city's board of police commissioners were copied.
"It is my hope to have them understand the constraints of the disciplinary system," said the police chief. "We're trying to be sensitive to the victim as well."
On May 16 the police commission voted unanimously to grant McQuate's permanent lieutenant status, following a one-year probationary period.
Police Capt. Janet Champlin is named as one of the intermediaries the women cited as preferring to communicate through, rather than having direct contact with McQuate. The captain told the Herald Friday she had no comment about the incident or resulting repercussions except for the following: "It is unfortunate that the public may form an opinion about the entire police department from one news story," said Champlin "It takes away from all of the good work that the men and women of the police department do every day."
Retrieved June 23, 2007 from http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070623/NEWS/706230330
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RELATED FOLLOW-UP STORY
Commission: Lt. suspended for groping officer
By Elizabeth Dinan, edinan@seacoastonline.com. 06/22/07
Portsmouth — A 25-year veteran of the Police Department was suspended for three days without pay as punishment for grabbing a female officer's breast while both were attending National Police Week in Washington, D.C., in May. Police Commission Chairman Jack Kelly said Lt. Rodney McQuate was suspended "after the matter was looked into carefully by all concerned."
Kelly said the decision to reprimand McQuate with a three-day suspension was made by Police Chief Michael Magnant, who could not be reached for comment. "It's his call," said Kelly. The police commission chairman said the incident had "something to do with booze" while McQuate and members of the police department were in Washington May 13-16 attending the national event, which is publicized as a solemn gathering to honor fallen officers.
Deputy Police Chief Len DiSesa said "any allegation of sexual harassment is taken seriously and investigated thoroughly." The deputy chief said the discipline was appropriate and "the matter is closed." "Our policy is very thorough and it comes from the top. This is not a wink-and-a-nod policy," said DiSesa. "We have eight women working in the department, and they are equal to the men."
The police patrolman's union vice president, Mark Newport, said the union has no official comment on the matter "at this time, due to ongoing internal meetings." Union secretary/treasurer Steve Arnold told the Herald that, at the request of female members, he would "refrain from commenting at this time." "The female members of our union are trying to obtain answers to many questions through the police administration concerning the severity of the discipline," said Arnold.
McQuate was promoted to lieutenant in May 2006 by unanimous vote of the Police Commission. From 1988 to 1990, he was part of the detectives division and returned to detectives shortly before his promotion. He has served as senior training officer for new officers, team leader of the accident reconstruction team, founding member of the police Honor Guard and head of the motorcycle unit.
Retrieved June 23, 2007 from http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070622/NEWS/706220467