Former Boston Police Officer Wins $1 Million Lawsuit

A former Boston police officer, Ensi Kirisi, who claimed she was dismissed for confronting a colleague over inappropriate remarks about her sexual life, has been awarded $1 million in a lawsuit—despite a jury deeming her unfit for duty.

Kirisi, 32, was let go from the Boston Police Department in 2019 during her probation period after being accused of verbally mistreating other officers in two incidents, as reported by a local news outlet.

In a legal battle that began two years later, she argued that her firing was retaliatory and that she faced ongoing sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace.

The city’s lawyers contended that Kirisi lost control of her emotions and was simply unqualified for the role.

Jurors concluded that Kirisi had experienced a hostile work environment but maintained it didn’t contribute to her termination.

During the trial, Kirisi’s attorney described the BPD’s culture as rife with racism and sexism, stressing issues of fairness and equality.

Kirisi is an Albanian immigrant who began her journey in law enforcement by enrolling in the police academy in 2017. After graduating, she was assigned to work with two field training officers and eventually began dating one of them, Elliot Telliner, who is Black. Following the announcement of their relationship, she faced crude jokes and comments related to her personal life.

However, she was also involved in two incidents that led to her firing. The first was in July 2018 when she approached a construction site regarding a police report and ended up arguing with an employee about her parking. The termination letter cited her illegal parking and use of profanity.

While she acknowledged her behavior as inappropriate, she argued the other officer’s conduct was rude.

The second incident occurred a month later, when she and Telliner went to Logan Airport during their break for a personal matter. There, she was confronted by a Massachusetts State Police trooper and reportedly became upset when asked for identification.

Following this encounter, she was placed on administrative duty, stripped of her firearm, and restricted from performing detailed work or overtime. Kirisi later testified that harassment escalated, with coworkers mocking her sex life and relationship.

In March 2019, she filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Anti-Discrimination Commission, but was terminated a few weeks later. Telliner, still on the force, expressed that her career had been unfairly taken from her.

Her attorney suggested that the circumstances of her firing indicated retaliation. However, the city attorney countered that her prior complaints did not warrant her dismissal. The attorney highlighted that she was still within her probationary period, which allows for swift removal of problematic officers.

After losing her job, Kirisi experienced significant distress and struggled financially while working as a food delivery driver. Eventually, she pursued a law degree and is now working as a lawyer.