Opinion ID: 788282
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Possible Retaliatory or Otherwise Questionable Conduct

Text: 13 Plaintiffs' statement of facts describes numerous instances of complaints, and reactions by defendants to those complaints. As a result of Plaintiff Smith's criticism of the black student's arrest in 1992, Public Safety Department Director Curtin requested that the director of personnel discipline Smith on several grounds, including insubordination. Smith was suspended thirty days for which he submitted a grievance. Although Leenheer told Guerrero that it would be best if [she] didn't have to go testify at the grievance hearing, she did testify. The grievance committee upheld the grievance on seven of the eight counts, denied it as to the insubordination charge, and reduced Smith's suspension to one day, finding thirty days to be unduly harsh. 14 In April 1993, Plaintiff Smith filed an internal complaint against various individuals, including Leenheer and Director Curtin. A month later, Plaintiff Reeves prepared an internal memorandum to what he titled the Department of Labor, where he expressed concern about discriminatory practices in overtime, selection of the acting watch commander, and the general atmosphere at the Public Safety Department. Reeves also affirmed that Salecker told him that when he worked on Leenheer's watch, Salecker would hear Leenheer's cronies telling racist jokes. 15 In March 1995, Smith filed a discrimination complaint with the Illinois Human Rights Commission. He claimed that he was given a warning for parking in a restricted parking space even though a white co-worker allegedly did the same and was not disciplined. Smith also contended that he was harassed and falsely accused of withholding information in connection with his inability to catch African-American individuals who had allegedly taken a stuffed animal from the school store. Smith stated that white officers were not harassed or suspended for wrongdoing under similar circumstances. 16 In March 1997, Smith and Reeves collectively filed discrimination charges with the Illinois Department of Human Rights. They alleged that Director Curtin demoted them from acting watch commander to police officer because of their race. The official reason given for Smith and Reeves's demotion was that they had left their patrol areas without authorization. However, Smith and Reeves alleged that non-black officers had done the same several times and had not faced discipline. 17 Also in March 1997, Weaver, Guerrero and Prondzinski complained to Director Curtin about Leenheer's treatment of non-white personnel. At the end of that month, Leenheer offered Prondzinski a ride home. During the ride, Leenheer told Prondzinski that he knew that someone had filed a complaint against him. He asked her if she knew anything about it and mentioned that he was going to do something about it. Feeling highly upset and slightly intimidated, Prondzinski responded in the negative. After he dropped her off at a grocery store, Prondzinski telephoned Weaver crying and very upset about the incident. 18 The next day, Weaver wrote a memorandum to Director Curtin explaining the situation. In this memorandum, she stated that Leenheer expressed his intention to call Prondzinski at home. Weaver expressed concern that Leenheer was trying to incite bad feelings in the department. Weaver also indicated her intention to contact the Department's Affirmative Action Office. 19 Two days later, Director Curtin advised Leenheer of the complaint in general terms and reminded him of the Department's policy against harassment or hostile, offensive or intimidating behavior. About a week later, in April 1997, Weaver, Guerrero, and Prondzinski filed an internal complaint describing what they viewed as a growing number of racially-motivated incidents and retaliation. They requested an independent investigation. About a month later, Margo Smith of the Department's Affirmative Action Office informed Weaver that a firm had been selected to formally review the Department. In early August, Prondzinski resigned citing turmoil and stress in the Department that had not been handled. Also in August, someone slipped a cryptic anonymous letter under Weaver's office door, which she viewed as threatening. 4 20 The external firm issued a final report in November 1997. The report identified personality clashes but made no finding of racial discrimination. The report was shared with Department employees in December 1997. 21 Dissatisfied with the report, Weaver urged the Department to hire experts to address racial discrimination. Northeastern responded by retaining Quest Consultants, which issued a final report in June 1998. Quest's report concluded that while Leenheer's behavior does need to be redirected and properly managed, and the facts presented suggested tensions in the workplace which may appear racial in nature on the surface, in the end, the facts do not appear to support claims of racial discrimination. 22 In the meantime, a number of additional events happened. In December 1997, Officer Leyva stopped by Guerrero's home and asked her foster children if she ever hit them. The children responded no. Smith filed another charge of discrimination with the Illinois Department of Human Rights in January 1998. In February 1998, Leenheer stated at a meeting that Weaver and Guerrero had made false allegations against him. He demanded an apology, and said that those two will be losing their homes. A few days after the meeting, Guerrero and Weaver again filed discrimination charges with the Illinois Department of Human Rights. They claimed retaliation for filing an internal affirmative action complaint in April 1997; harassment in the form of issuance of tickets in September 1997 (Officer Hamideh, who reports to Leenheer, issued Guerrero tickets for lacking a registration sticker and for not having insurance, the latter of which was allegedly untrue); and for perceived threats, namely the cryptic anonymous letter, and Leenheer's losing their homes comment.