Former Mississippi Highway Patrol Trooper Ivana Williams sued the Mississippi Department of Public Safety for sexual harassment Friday in U.S. District Court.
MHP fired on February 13, 2024 for sending nude pictures of herself to other troopers, accessing porn on her state-issued phone, and not informing superiors she had an interview with the Attorney General's office. See below for a synopsis of her termination.
The complaint claims Williams was "denied employment opportunities and ultimately discharged because she is a woman." Williams alleges she suffered sexual harassment throughout her career:
Throughout the course of her career, the Plaintiff was subjected to rampant and uncontrolled sexual harassment by employees of the Defendant Department of Public Safety and other state officials who exerted real or perceived authority over her. Additionally, the Plaintiff suffered sex discrimination throughout the course of her career which limited her advancement within the Department of Public Safety.
Williams claims Patrol School instructors made "sexually suggestive remarks to her, patted her" on the butt in front of others, forced her to lie down and "smile at them in a sexual fashion", made her do a jiggle jump in front of a barracks full of male instructors and cadets, and last but not least, moaned "in a sexual manner" at the female cadet.
However, Williams stoically ignored it all and graduated from patrol school. The alleged sexual harassment continued as her superior officers subjected her to sexual advances. Williams applied several times to the MHP Special Operations Group. She claims MHP denied her requests due to sex discrimination. Once alleged incident summed it up:
She ceased efforts to join the SOG after a particularly ugly incident at a gathering of SOG officers at a hotel. One SOG officer brazenly demanded of the Plaintiff, "Let me see your tits" in front of the assembled members of the SOG, and a superior officer within the group sexually propositioned the Plaintiff, inviting her to come to his room.
(Allegedly) Denied but not discouraged, the trooper tried to join MHP's motorcycle division. The complaint claims two motorcycle patrol officers told her she could not joins because it was a "boys club."
It all came to a head in late 2023 when MHP reassigned her from the Jackson area to the Delta, 100 miles from her Rankin County home. She claims sex discrimination as she is a single mother with four children and there was no legitimate reason to transfer her. Williams filed a grievance over the transfer. Earlier post.
MHP terminated Williams a few weeks later. The complaint complains the troopers who sexually harassed her were still employed when she was fired. Williams alleges many are still employed, "including a high-ranking administrative" official who was involved in her separation from MHP.
However, MHP fired Master Sergeants Jeremy Lott and Julius Hutson because of their interactions with Williams. Hutson was Williams' immediate superior. Earlier post on Hutson termination, Earlier post on Lott termination.
Williams appealed her termination to the Mississippi Employees Appeals Board. However, Williams also filed an EEOC complaint. EEOC issued her a right to sue letter. The Board was supposed to her her appeal October 3 and 4 but the case terminated when Williams filed her federal lawsuit as the U.S. District Court has superior jurisdiction.
Williams asked for actual damages, a jury trial, reinstatement to MHP, back pay, and attorney's fees. Attorney Matthew Eichelberger represents Williams. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Kristi Johnson.
Note: A copy of the complaint, appeal record, and termination letter are published at the bottom of the post.
You told Internal Affairs that you notified Master Sergeant Eric Henry of your interview with the Attorney General's Office, either the day of or the day after and Captain Chriss Turnipseed two or three weeks later. However, you did not notify Troop C Troop Commander Ricky Dean.You admitted in your due process hearing that you did not notify anyone prior to your interview.
The failure to properly notify her Troop Commander was a serious offense. However, more serious offenses doomed her chances to remain a trooper. The letter cites her unprofessional conduct or what was once called behavior unbecoming of a trooper, as the reason for her dismissal.
Williams performed poorly on questions involving the lawsuit on a polygraph exam.
The polygraph exam and the lawsuit were just the beginning of Command's problems with the wayward trooper as Williams apparently has a thing for porn.
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The letter states "In your due process hearing, you admitted sending or showing illicit pictures while on duty.
Your actions constitute inefficiency or other good cause as and pursuant to Chapter 7 of the Mississippi State Employee Handbook your employment is terminated effective immediately.
25 comments:
Ohweeeee!
It is very disorienting to work around an office sex-pot teasing female who perhaps offers to strip dance or have sex in the office. They are often shallow and unproductive employees, in my experience.
Is it just me or does the timing of all of these allegations seem suspect. She was so mistreated, harassed, and discriminated against back then, but now, as her ummmm "reputation" has come to light, is it an issue. This chick is bat$h!t crazy. I have been around her in very small doses, but it's very visible. Whoever hired her was thinking with their small head as this was always bound to happen to her. Now the Facebook videos, Tik Toks, 'Sippi Girls(redneck thots who crave attention), etc. it is on full display.
She is going to win. I don't see many people being on a jury that are fond of MHP. If I am the plaintiff's lawyer, I'd call every steroid popping patrol officer with veins sticking out of his head to the stand and I'd get transcripts of every text they sent on his government phone over the last three years. Talk about hostile work environment. They will settle.
No trooper will make a good witness. With even the slightest challenge, they explode.
I don't think they'll settle, or that her attorney thinks they will. Rather, this seems to be a publicity stunt, to keep ya'll clicking on her social media posts. IF she makes it to trial, all of her bullshit making it in front of the jury will be excellent click bait (albeit second hand, as this would be a Federal trial)
Only the best!
The same ex-trooper that is selling used work out clothing and other stuff online right now? Yah, great look.
But yet she’s posting on FB that she’ll cut your lawn in her bikini for $100.
So she didn't make SOG, so then she turns to sleeping with married men (yes plural) and its MHPs fault?
The casting couch doesn't always guarantee a good outcum.
Federal court. Oh man.
MHP has major issues. Good ole boy that can arrest you on trumped up charges and face insignificant discipline, - See how trooper young was treated for targeting Jimbo. He spent at most an hour or so shooting the breeze with the MHP lawyer talking about constitutional law(yeah right). She was part and parcel to the misbehavior. The whole group needs a thorough going through.
The same mhp constitutional lawyer may have something to be worried about now! Read the allegations regarding "someone" being involved with the defense at the EAB being involved. How ironic would that be?
This is just the tip of the iceberg. This environment at DPS is rampant and many other high ranking brass, their friends, and civilians are going to get burnt and exposed! It goes all the way from the top down. This will be the biggest scandal ever to hit an agency in mississippi once it all comes out!
Agreed. After blatantly violating a man's constitutionally protected rights on multiple occasions, he still has a job? Imagine the times he got away with it. They all need to go.
The tax payers are sick and tired of our state government being run like some 2 bit adult entertainment store. Are we incapable of finding employees that can resist their sexual urges while performing their duties? Just a few weeks ago, there was a story about a PRV cop that was violating children and now this. There needs to be a complete overhaul of state government specifically targeting the sexual deviancy that is embedded. For far too long, state law enforcement has been a breeding ground for this kind of stuff. No means no!
Taxpayers will brunt the significant verdict when she wins. When will there be accountability at DPS for people put into positions who have no clue what they are doing? It is only a matter of knowing someone and being their friend and you have a job. If you don't play along with all the foolishness and be a "team player" they will target you and find a way to fire you. Good ole boy system at its best. I hope others that have had this happen start to come forward and expose everything that is going on.
MHP loves its porn and power
Can’t help but believe she’s got video of her escapades and is crazy enough to drop em in court.
If you get stopped by MHP, do not submit to any searches, record everything and inform the officer that you do not agree to any sexual activities. The state has sided with the creeps by opening up the ranks of MHP as an employment program for the steroid crowd. Steroids create hyper sexualized behavior. It’s up to the citizens to push back. We are on our own.
If the allegations in her complaint are true about what has been going on at DPS, what an embarrassment and disgrace to the state. How can leaders foster this type of conduct and allow it to continue? If you are a female what are you to do? Report it to your supervisor or legal when they are also involved? Report it further up the chain to others who are allowing it to happen? I would think there would be a fear or stigma attached to anyone who would report such misconduct when this type of environment is allowed and expected.
Boys will be boys. And some girls learn early how to exploit it. Get out the check book.
You people denigrating the victim sound like a bunch of MHP employees. Or their wives.
People need to look closely at some of the actions taking to empoyer these "leaders." One such leader was hired out at the law enforcement academy and had an interesting federal employment history right in line with what we have here. It was well know, yet why not put him in power to help train our law enforcement officers.....he is friends with the right person. It is akin to putting a wolf in a pasture of sheep with no accountability for what happens.
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