Posted on Thu, Nov. 12, 2009
Pa. female trooper alleges sex bias, and more
By DANA DiFILIPPO
Philadelphia Daily News
difilid@phillynews.com 215-854-5934
PENNSYLVANIA STATE Trooper Andrea Young just wanted a promotion.
So the 13-year veteran – her smarts already proved as a Mensa member – took the Pennsylvania State Police’s promotions exam, scoring sixth out of 2,000 test-takers.
But, despite her scores and an unblemished disciplinary record, her bosses passed her over for promotion. Male co-workers joked about her sex life. Colleagues accused her of cheating on the exam. Superiors suspended her, stripped her of her badge and gun, transferred her and tried to fire her.
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The case comes five months after the state police troopers’ union asked federal and state authorities to investigate corruption among the 4,576-trooper force’s bigwigs. The union also filed a federal lawsuit in September charging supervisors with abusing the discipline system and retaliating against whistle-blowers in the department.
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Her bosses placed her on restricted duty, involuntarily transferred her to Hazleton, denied her promotion, suspended her without pay and then court-martialed her, according to the lawsuit.
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Young filed complaints with the union and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. An arbitrator found no proof of cheating or harassment, ordered her reinstated with back pay and benefits, and recommended reconsideration for promotion, according to the lawsuit.
But Young remains exiled to Hazleton and wasn’t promoted, according to the lawsuit, which seeks compensatory and punitive damages and fines against the defendants for their alleged offenses.
