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Official makes allegations of sexual harassment and says hostility arose in the workplace

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A Louisville Metro Police officer is suing the police department and the city, claiming she was sexually harassed, resulting in workplace discrimination and retaliation. The plaintiff, Christine Silk, began training at LMPD’s academy in February 2023. In the lawsuit, she alleges one of her instructors, Officer Dale Cottongim, made inappropriate comments about her and the fact that she was a single mother in front of her classmates on more than one occasion. Silk says one time, when she couldn’t get child care for a work assignment, Cottongim suggested she “prostitute herself” for it. This was one of several examples cited. She reported his behavior to a female training sergeant, who reported it up the chain of command, leading to an investigation by the Professional Standards Unit. The lawsuit says he violated two charges, but not the one of harassment/sexual harassment. Cottongim was reprimanded and involuntarily transferred to a patrol division but not suspended, according to the lawsuit. Silk said after the investigation, she received backlash from colleagues, including some who claimed she was “reporting everyone for sexual harassment.” “She was devastated that so many people she knew, but also people she didn’t know, were talking about her in the police community and saying, ‘Stay away from her, she’s going to file a sexual harassment report against you,'” her attorney, Sara Collins, said Tuesday. At some point after she was sworn in as a police officer last September, Silk claims she was harassed again. The lawsuit says that during the second phase of her training, her assigned training officer, Justin LeMon, made “inappropriate comments and advances.” It says LeMon repeatedly asked her if she would be romantically interested in him if he weren’t married, touched her on multiple occasions in ways that made her uncomfortable and once forced her to read a sexual fantasy he had written about her on his phone. She also claims he once touched her under the breast and tried to pull up her shirt, and repeatedly insisted she look at his crotch after hugging. Silk said he texted her sexual photos in November. The lawsuit says that after her first experience reporting Cottongim, she didn’t want to report another male officer for inappropriate behavior. When she finally did it to a trusted colleague, he wrote a memo to another sergeant saying LeMon shouldn’t train any other female officers. According to the lawsuit, another investigation by the PSU took place and LeMon was placed in administrative with limited authority until the investigation was completed. Again, Silk said she faced backlash and felt unfairly treated afterward. In one example, she recounts being transferred to another administrative position in May following the officer-involved shooting. She claims she was denied jobs that others would have gotten. WLKY reached out to LMPD about Silk’s lawsuit. Here is their full response: “LMPD does not tolerate sexual misconduct within this agency as this conduct is contrary to our mission to provide a safe work environment for all sworn and professional employees. We take all allegations of this nature seriously and, in accordance with our standard operating procedures, immediately initiate internal investigations once they are brought to our attention.” Regarding the specific allegations contained in the lawsuit, one investigation was completed in 2023. That officer was disciplined and transferred. The other investigation is ongoing, and while it is ongoing, the officer was transferred with limited authority pending the outcome of the investigation. Neither is assigned to the same department or unit as the officer who made the allegations. “We appreciate the opportunity to respond, but cannot comment further due to pending litigation.” The lawsuit comes to light shortly after Police Chief Jackie Gwinn-Villaroel was suspended over her handling of workplace sexual harassment allegations involving several officers. The mayor said Tuesday the investigation into the chief’s conduct, which is being led by a former FBI agent, will take about a month. The investigation into the officer accused of harassment, which will go through the county attorney’s office, will take much longer. The chief will be on paid leave during both investigations.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

A Louisville Metro Police officer is suing the police department and the city, claiming she was sexually harassed, resulting in workplace discrimination and retaliation.

The plaintiff, Christine Silk, began her training at the LMPD Academy in February 2023.

In the lawsuit, she claims that one of her instructors, police officer Dale Cottongim, made inappropriate comments about her and the fact that she was a single mother in front of her classmates on more than one occasion.

Silk recounts that she was once unable to get childcare for a work assignment and Cottongim suggested that she “prostitute herself” to do so. This was one of several examples cited.

She reported his behavior to a trainer, who reported it up the chain of command, leading to an investigation by the Professional Standards Unit.

The lawsuit states that he was accused of violating two counts, but not of harassment/sexual harassment.

Cottongim was reprimanded and involuntarily transferred to a patrol unit, but not suspended, the lawsuit says.

Silk said she faced harsh criticism from her colleagues following the investigation, with some claiming she was “reporting everyone for sexual harassment.”

“She was devastated that so many people she knew, as well as people she didn’t know, were talking about her around the police department and saying, ‘Stay away from her, she’s going to report you for sexual harassment,'” her lawyer Sara Collins said Tuesday.

At some point after she was sworn in as a police officer last September, Silk said she was harassed again.

The lawsuit alleges that her instructor, Justin LeMon, made “inappropriate comments and advances” during the second phase of her training.

It says LeMon repeatedly asked her if she would be romantically interested without him, touched her several times in ways that made her uncomfortable, and once forced her to read a sexual fantasy he had written about her on his phone.

She also claims that he once touched her below the breasts and tried to pull up her shirt, and that he repeatedly insisted that she look at his crotch after the hug.

Silk said he sent her sexual photos in November.

The lawsuit states that after her first complaint against Cottongim, she did not want to report any other male police officers for inappropriate behavior.

When she finally did this to a trusted colleague, she said, the colleague wrote a memo to another sergeant demanding that LeMon not train any other female police officers.

According to the lawsuit, another investigation by the PSU ensued and LeMon was transferred to a new administrative level with limited powers pending the outcome of the investigation.

Silk said she faced backlash again and felt unfairly treated afterwards.

In one example, she tells of how she was transferred to a new administrative position in May following a shooting involving a police officer.

She claims that she was denied internships that others had received.

WLKY reached out to LMPD about Silk’s complaint. Here is their full response:

“LMPD does not tolerate sexual misconduct within this agency as this behavior is contrary to our mission to provide a safe work environment for all sworn and professional employees. We take all allegations of this nature seriously and, in accordance with our standard procedures, immediately initiate internal investigations once they are brought to our attention.

“An investigation into the specific allegations in the lawsuit was completed in 2023. That officer has been disciplined and transferred. The other investigation is ongoing, and while it is ongoing, the officer has been transferred with limited authority pending the outcome of the investigation. Neither is assigned to the same department or unit as the officer who made the allegations.

“We appreciate the opportunity to respond, but are unable to comment further due to pending litigation.”

The lawsuit came to light shortly after Police Chief Jackie Gwinn-Villaroel was suspended for her handling of workplace sexual harassment allegations involving several officers.

The mayor said Tuesday that the investigation into the police chief’s conduct, led by a former FBI agent, will take about a month. The investigation into the officer accused of harassment, which will be handled by the district attorney’s office, will take significantly longer.

The boss will remain on paid leave during the two investigations.

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