A shocking lawsuit claims that leaders of the New York City Police Department observed as a female officer undressed through a hidden hole in a locker room wall at a Bronx train station.
This peephole, which the officer likened to a scene from the movie “Porky’s” where students spy on girls, was supposedly concealed behind a computer monitor. The officer, Sergeant Jolene Lozano, made this claim in her court filings.
Lozano reported that she found the peephole while working in the Joint Supervisor’s Office of the Evidence Collection Unit in the South Bronx.
In documents filed in the Bronx Supreme Court in September, Lozano, 45, described how she noticed the hole while preparing to use her computer and charge her phone. The hole permitted a view into the locker room where she and others were changing.
Images reveal the hole, which had cords hanging from it, was significant enough that someone could clearly see inside. Interestingly, the wires did not seem to connect to anything, as noted by her attorney, John Scola.
Lozano alleged that male supervisors in the unit monitored the locker room changes. After discovering the peephole, she covered it with a metal plate and promptly reported it to the Interior Ministry.
In addition, she filed a sexual harassment complaint involving Sgt. Hubert Vandewerp, who allegedly made derogatory remarks about her appearance in front of peers.
Her female colleagues informed Lozano that Vandewerp, 42, often made inappropriate comments and called her names. Shortly after filing her complaint, she found a mouse doll in her drawer, which she took as evidence of possible retaliation.
Another officer, Vonavowski Sanchez, joined Lozano in filing a lawsuit against Vandewerp and other supervisors in December, citing similar issues of harassment.
Sanchez claimed that Vandewerp would make crude remarks, even stating that his tight pants allowed others to see his genitals. She recounted instances where he mimicked women and made vulgar gestures.
Moreover, Sanchez described how another supervisor, Lt. Garson Cabrera, made his own inappropriate comments, even including a bizarre text about wanting to “have sex” with a female officer during a Halloween-themed group chat.
On another occasion, Cabrera is alleged to have stood too close to Sanchez, invading her personal space, which made her uncomfortable.
After her complaints, Lozano found herself back on patrol and has since retired, while Sanchez remains an active officer. Vandewerp was reassigned following the allegations against him.
In a phone call, Vandewerp dismissed the lawsuit as “bogus,” while Cabrera chose not to comment.
Both lawsuits ask for unspecified damages over these claims.
Attorney John Scola highlighted the bravery of these women for bringing their concerns to light, noting that they faced retaliation from the very system intended to protect them.
The NYPD, for its part, has stated that they are investigating the allegations. They reiterated a commitment to maintaining a respectful work environment free from sexual harassment.
