Allegations of Harassment and Retaliation Against NYPD Officer

A New York Police Department officer has filed a lawsuit claiming she was sexually assaulted by her mentor and faced retaliation for reporting the abuse.

Brooklyn detective Jasmine Walls, 31, asserts that she suffered over a year of harassment from her partner, Detective Carlos Zambrano. This lawsuit, submitted to Manhattan Supreme Court on July 24, outlines her experiences.

After raising concerns with her supervisors, Walls described being subjected to rumors and having her access to NYPD’s psychological services revoked, feeling her gun, badge, and identification were taken away as a response to her complaints.

“I didn’t expect to be a victim like this,” Walls expressed. “It’s not what I thought being a cop would be about.”

According to the lawsuit, the abuse began in November 2022, shortly after Walls was assigned to the 90th precinct in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

“He was technically supposed to be my mentor,” Walls commented on Zambrano. “But once he got to know me, things took a turn… it was unpredictable.”

What started with inappropriate comments escalated to groping and sexually explicit messages. Allegedly, Zambrano threatened that if she spoke out, she would be labeled “a mouse.” In one alarming incident, he reportedly simulated oral sex in a stairwell.

“I was really taken aback,” Walls recalled. “Could someone in the police force actually do that?” Despite her shock, she chose to remain quiet, focusing on earning her detective shield.

However, things changed after a holiday party in December 2023, where Zambrano allegedly exposed himself in public. Following this event, Walls decided to report the abuse to representatives of a donation association and welfare officers.

Union officials questioned her ability to “work with men” moving forward, while Zambrano reportedly claimed she would need to apologize for her actions.

After reporting the abuse, Walls found herself the subject of rumors and was denied overtime, while Zambrano continued his work without consequence.

Multiple supervisors were reportedly aware of Zambrano’s behavior but failed to intervene, according to the lawsuit.

From that point onward, Walls claims she was ostracized, labeled as “Log Dropper” and “RAT,” facing isolation from her colleagues.

Though she was transferred to a different precinct in April 2024, the whispers of gossip followed her, indicating a long-standing smear campaign.

In July 2025, Walls was asked to patrol but felt pressured to rescind her request. Later, one supervisor classified her as “indecisive,” sending her for psychological evaluation where she was stripped of her firearm and badge.

“They set out to humiliate me,” Walls stated.

She mentioned that departmental psychologists found her suitable for duty on the same day.

Zambrano, who is married, remains on the job.

Walls, though reluctant to file a lawsuit initially, felt that not speaking up was detrimental to her mental health, describing the situation as stifling. “He continues with his career as if nothing has happened,” she noted. “Meanwhile, my career has been jeopardized due to his actions.”

Her attorney, John Scola, criticized the NYPD, claiming they protect offenders while punishing those who dare to report harassment. “This case underscores a deeply flawed system that fosters retaliation and institutional failure,” he said.

Walls is seeking unspecified damages.

The NYPD has declined to comment on the ongoing lawsuit. Attempts to reach Zambrano and his supervisor were unsuccessful.