LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville Metro Police officer filed a lawsuit against the department, claiming she was sexually harassed by two male supervisors during her first year on the job, with one sending her a picture of his penis.
Officer Christine Silk claims she was inappropriately touched, asked in front of other officers if she had to "whore herself out for childcare," sent inappropriate texts, asked to hug a supervisor who had an erection and told by the same officer to read aloud sexual fantasies he had written about her, among other allegations.
One of the officers was reprimanded and transferred while another is currently under investigation, according to the lawsuit, which was filed Tuesday in Jefferson Circuit Court.
"LMPD will not tolerate sexual misconduct within this agency as those behaviors run afoul of our mission to provide a safe work environment for all Sworn and Professional staff," LMPD spokesperson Angela Ingram said in a written statement Tuesday. "... While we appreciate the opportunity to respond, we are unable to provide additional comment due to pending litigation."
The lawsuit comes just days after LMPD Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel was placed on administrative leave by Mayor Craig Greenberg for how she "handled a workplace sexual harassment" allegation by Maj. Shannon Lauder.
LMPD Officer Christine Silk
Attorney Sara Collins, who represents Silk, said in the lawsuit and an interview that the complaints are part of a larger issue with the police department fostering a culture that allows sexual harassment.
"Sexual harassment is a problem in LMPD from the very top of command throughout the rank and file," Collins said in an interview Tuesday. "It is a sexualized, misogyny-rich culture. There have been numerous sexual harassment verdicts, millions of dollars paid out by the city to victims."
And she noted that the Department of Justice found that LMPD does not properly investigate allegations of sexual misconduct within the department.
"We found numerous instances where LMPD did not open administrative investigations to correspond to criminal investigations into reports of sexual misconduct and domestic violence by officers," the DOJ said in its March 2023 report.
The lawsuit also takes note of other instances in which female officers have been sexually harassed, including a $1.2 million settlement in 2019 to a female lieutenant who received unsolicited sexually explicit photographs.
"Nothing has mattered," Collins said. "It is woefully past time for LMPD to institute a no tolerance policy against sexual harassment between officers."
The lawsuit alleges that Silk was a recruit in her first week last year when one of her instructors, Officer Dale Cottongim, began asking inappropriate questions about her being a single mother.
In front of her classmates, according to the lawsuit, Cottongim suggested that Silk "whore herself out of childcare" and "go on a date, take a guy home, sleep with him and then (she) would have childcare."
After Silk told a female sergeant about the conduct, an internal investigation concluded Cottongim had violated LMPD policy regarding conduct unbecoming and courtesy, according to the lawsuit. He was exonerated on an allegation of sexual harassment.
Officer Dale Cottongim (Photo courtesy of the Louisville Metro Police Department)
Cottongim received a reprimand and was transferred out of the training unit, according to a copy of his disciplinary history.
"For (the statements) not to violate the sexual harassment policy is absurd," Collins said.
The lawsuit also claims that internal investigators were "demeaning" when questioning Silk about the allegations "and seemed to indicate or assume that she had done something wrong."
After Silk, 33, graduated from the academy, she began training with Officer Justin LeMon, who made inappropriate comments and advances toward her, according to the suit.
LeMon, who is married, brushed against Silk's breasts and attempted to raise her shirt, the suit claims.
Another time, while Silk was driving, he allegedly forced her to read a sexual fantasy he had written about her in the notes section of his phone.
In addition, LeMon tried to hug Silk while he said he had an erection, telling her to look at it, the suit claims.
And the lawsuit includes texts sent to Silk asking for nude picture and a redacted picture of LeMon's penis.
"I didn’t get any type of response last night and was sweating (laugh emoji)," LeMon texted the day after allegedly sending a picture of his penis, according to screen shots in the lawsuit.
While Silk didn’t initially file a complaint for fear she would be ostracized by other officers, she worried his conduct would continue with other young female officers and told another officer about the incidents.
That officer, who was in charge of training Silk after LeMon, wrote a memo to a sergeant on Dec. 12, 2023, describing the "inappropriate" conduct, according to the lawsuit. No action was taken.
After that, Silk said she was retaliated against and denied a request to be put on a certain assignment because, she was told, there were rumors she had a sexual relationship with an officer in the same squad.
In April, Silk filed a complaint against LeMon and he was placed on "emergency suspension," according to the suit.
Collins said the department has not told Silk where LeMon is working while on administrative reassignment.
The lawsuit is requesting a jury trial and unspecified monetary damages.
Silk, a U.S. Army veteran, is currently on administrative leave pending the investigation of a fatal shooting in May by her and two other officers of a man holding a knife in the 4700 block of Crawford Avenue.
Nicholas Pierce, 43, was shot and killed on May 10 after he charged the officers and refused commands to drop the knife, according to police.
"She understands the dangers and risks the outside presents to police officers," Collins said. "She never anticipated danger and risk from inside the thin blue line."
This story may be updated.
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