Detective Alleges Harassment in NYPD Internal Affairs
A startling lawsuit has emerged, revealing that a detective within the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau claims he faced sexual and racial harassment from both superiors and fellow officers. Disturbingly, he states that dildos were placed on and around his desk as a form of ridicule.
Detective Jonathan Calderon reports that this mistreatment began as soon as he joined the force. He asserts that he was appointed without an interview and placed on a pathway to become a detective by his longtime friend, then-Commander Miguel Iglesias. This information is outlined in a lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court last month.
At 38 years old, Calderon, a devout Christian from Colombia and a married father of three, joined the police force in 2008. By May 2023, he started working in the Integrity Testing Group of the IAB, as indicated in the complaint filed by attorney John Scola.
From nearly his first day, his supervisor, Officer Darryl Knight, who is white, reportedly referred to him derogatorily as “that guy” during roll calls and conversations with other officers. The lawsuit alleges that such remarks served to underscore Calderon’s perceived inferiority due to his ethnicity.
Officer Alejandro Polanco Cortiz, also named in the lawsuit, allegedly put a large black dildo on Calderon’s desk in July 2023, dubbing him a “dk rider.” On another occasion, he is accused of placing a fake orange penis on the desk and another on the floor.
In April 2024, Calderon claims he found a deer head belonging to Knight on a chair, and the word “rat” was written on his locker, accompanied by a rubber rat on his desk.
During one incident, while seated at his desk, Polanco-Cortiz allegedly approached Calderon from behind and began rubbing against him inappropriately, reportedly asking in Spanish, “Do you hate dk?”
After that encounter, Calderon filed a complaint regarding the harassment with the Equal Employment Opportunity Office. Following this, he alleges that Capt. Craig Roach, Knight, and Polanco-Cortiz retaliated against him, stripping him of overtime pay and subjecting him to various forms of discipline.
Calderon describes his superiors as becoming furious when he followed the proper reporting protocols. In late 2024, he pointed out the presence of alcohol in the office refrigerator, which caused one superior to explode in anger during a team meeting. Knight, in this meeting, allegedly brandished a firearm and shouted, “I don’t know who’s complaining!”
The implications were clear: Calderon felt that his safety was under threat if he continued to voice concerns.
Following that frightening event, Calderon lodged another report with the EEOC regarding the three officers. His annual evaluation later scored him a 3 out of 5, and the stress he endured led to physical symptoms, including a rash and swollen lips.
Calderon claims that during this period, Knight made derogatory comments about his health, announcing his supposed “herpes” in a loud manner. The lawsuit also states that conditions worsened when Police Chief Jessica Tisch took over from Miguel Iglesias in 2025.
In early 2025, Knight, who reportedly owned a flower shop, supposedly approached Calderon expressing a desire to hire “two people like you,” elaborating that he preferred “the undocumented ones.” Knight allegedly belittled Calderon further by calling him gay and making fun of his weight.
Calderon asserts that the retaliation and loss of overtime pay have severely impacted his finances, forcing him to take out over $40,000 in loans against his pension to support his family.
By May 2025, Calderon was reassigned to a different group within the IAB, while Knight was relocated to another section within the department. He shared his feelings about the bullying, expressing disappointment that officers, who should uphold decent standards, instead chose to demean him.
“They used their position to degrade and attack me,” Calderon expressed.
His attorney, John Scola, characterized the case as revealing a pattern of using racial slurs and sexual humiliation within management practices. “Detective Calderon’s brave decision to take legal action aims to challenge a longstanding culture of disregard within the NYPD,” he added.
Responses from the city have been scarce. When reached for comment, Knight deferred to “no comment,” while the other defendants did not respond. An NYPD spokesperson emphasized that the department does not tolerate harassment and is currently reviewing the allegations.
