Female Employee Files Discrimination Complaint Against Village PD

EAST HAMPTON, NY — The New York State Division of Human Rights has issued a finding of probable cause in response to a discrimination complaint filed by a civilian employee of the East Hampton Village Police Department.

According to the NYDSHR, Layla Bennett, who works in the EHVD's records department, filed a complaint on Sept. 8, 2020, charging the incorporated village of East Hampton and the Village of East Hampton Police Department with an "unlawful discriminatory practice related to employment because of gender identity or expression, sex, opposed discrimination/retaliation" in violation of New York's human rights law. The NYSDHR ruled, after an investigation, that "probable cause" exists and a public hearing will be held.

According to Bennett's attorney Alex Kaminski of Davis & Ferber, LLP of Islandia, Bennett, a civilian employee, has accused the Village of East Hampton of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.

"Ms. Bennett was victimized by Police Captain Anthony Long since 2015. The difference in her treatment compared to others, primarily males, makes it apparent that Captain Long targeted her due to her gender and retaliated against her after she reported the mistreatment numerous times," Kaminski wrote in a statement to Patch.

Long, Kaminski said, would make demeaning comments about the way Bennett looked and dressed; state Bennett was "lazy or could not do her job despite her excellent work record"; threaten to terminate Bennett for conduct others were not even reprimanded for; ruin work projects in Bennett’s office and laugh at her when she questioned what happened; remove furniture and other items from Bennett’s office without justification; and yell at and berate Bennett in front of other department members.

According to Kaminski, Bennett complained often to East Hampton Village Police Chief Michael Tracey, among others. Bennett, he said, "was repeatedly assured that this inappropriate and illegal conduct would stop. However, nothing was done and Ms. Bennnett lived in constant fear and anxiety. Chief Tracey discouraged Ms. Bennett from making complaints outside of the department."

Bennett also complained to the East Hampton Village administrator and the village board, including former Mayor Richard Lawler, former Deputy Mayor Barbara Borsak, and
former Trustees Ray Harden, Rosemary Brown, and Arthur Graham, Kaminski said.

Former village administrator Rebecca Hansen was assigned to investigate Bennett's complaints with no prior experience and stated that "her complaints had no merit and would never go
anywhere. Chief Tracey confirmed that no action would be taken against Captain Long for his
illegal hostile and discriminatory behavior," Kaminski said. "This illegal behavior continued for years until Ms. Bennett was compelled to file a complaint with the NYSDHR before newly elected Mayor Jerry Larsen brought in Suffolk County’s internal affairs bureau to investigate. Shortly thereafter Captain Long commenced a leave of absence until he retires later this year," Kaminsky said

Bennett’s complaint is set to proceed to a public hearing before a NYSDHR administrative
law judge, he said. "Ms. Bennett hopes to continue her career without issue now that her complaints are finally being addressed," Kaminski said.

East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen responded to a request for comment: "In light of the pending legal proceedings, I have no comment with respect to these particular allegations. However, I wish to publicly reaffirm my commitment to providing each and every employee of the Village of East Hampton a workplace that is safe and free from any bias or discrimination," he said.

Tracey did not immediately return a request for comment; Long, who is being represented by the village, could not immediately be reached for comment.