C I T Y OF H A R T F O R D

INTRADEPARTMENTAL MEMORANDUM

TO: Cherese Chery,

Human Resources Director

FROM: Officer Mirella Gentry

DATE: February 26, 2019

I, Officer Mirella Gentry, am an 18-year veteran of the Hartford Police Department. I am currently
assigned to the patrol division unit 17- A squad. Before that assignment, I was the Northeast
Community Service Officer (CSO) for approximately two years before I was suddenly,
unexpectedly and involuntarily transferred to the Patrol Division on December 23, 2018. I was
never given a documented reason for my transfer. I am making this hostile work environment and
sexual harassment complaint regarding my involuntary transfer from an assignment as the
Northeast Community Service Officer to the Patrol Division.

On December 20, 2018, I was at home and received a text message from Lieutenant Lauren Cox
who directed me to meet with Captain Gabriel Laureano at 1615 hours inside his office. I
responded to Captain Laureano’s office and met with Lt. Cox and Captain Laureano. Captain
Laureano proceeded to state that we have been friends for a long time, and he wanted to take the
opportunity to tell me that due to my low productivity, I was having my position taken from me
and I would be placed in a patrol unit effective December 23, 2018. During this meeting, Captain
Laureano presented me with a form to sign, a Voluntary Transfer Request Form. He attempted to
convince me to sign the voluntary transfer form at which time I refused, being that I was not
voluntarily leaving my assignment that I worked extremely hard in for the last two years. Captain
Laureano threatened that it would be in my best interest to sign the voluntary transfer form because
it would look better in my work history and personnel file. Captain Laureano continued to warn
that if I refused to sign the voluntary transfer and if I signed the involuntary transfer form, then it
would affect my opportunity for any future advances, assignments and or promotions. I was alone
with a lieutenant and a captain and felt as if I was being threatened and bullied into signing a
voluntary transfer form when it was not a voluntary transfer. I advised Captain Laureano that I
would take both voluntary and involuntary forms and will return one to him at a later time after I
consulted with the union. After reviewing the forms, there was no explanation for my removal on
the involuntary transfer form. Throughout the evening Lt. Cox called me several times over the
HPD radio I-call and requested the signed paperwork as Captain Laureano was requesting it. At
approximately 1830 hours, I saw Lt. Cox at 85 Edwards Street and advised her I would be signing
the involuntary transfer form, but I needed the form to be filled out completely (reason for
involuntary transfer and signatures, etc.) Lt. Cox stated to me that she was directed by Captain
Laureano to leave the reason for the involuntary transfer blank. I advised Lt. Cox I would not be
signing the involuntary transfer form without a reason for my transfer being filled out. Lt. Cox
stepped away and stated she would need to place a call and contacted Captain Laureano. When

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Lt. Cox returned from her phone call, she handed the form back to me and stated that Captain
Laureano told her to hand write the reason for my transfer which stated, “per the request of the
patrol captain.” I found the explanation to be unacceptable and very personal. I took the
involuntary form to make copies for my personal records. A short while later, Lt. Cox once again
contacted me and directed me to sign the paperwork as Captain Laureano was demanding them
again. I once again advised Lt. Cox I needed appropriate signatures on the transfer form. Lt. Cox
told me that Captain Laureano was not available at the time to sign the form and they would get
me a copy with their signatures back to me. I never received a copy from Lt. Cox or Captain
Laureano.

On January 8, 2019, at 1545 hours, I made an appointment with HPD Personnel to review the
involuntary transfer paperwork and to my surprise and further disappointment, the involuntary
form was not in my personnel file. I spoke to Ms. Jalynn Adams-White in Personnel, who stated
that she gets notifications of such transfers; voluntary and involuntary but did not receive anything
pertaining to me. Ms. Adams-White double checked and reviewed her emails and stated she could
not locate anything regarding me and my transfer back to patrol. Ms. Adams-White stated transfer
paperwork usually takes about 3 to 5 days to get filed to an officer’s personnel file.

On January 21, 2019 at 2010 hours, I sent Chief Rosado an email requesting the fully endorsed
involuntary transfer form I was directed to sign to be put in my personnel file. Seeing that I
received no reply from Chief Rosado, on February 5, 2019 at 1315 hours, I called HPD Personnel
to check if the involuntary transfer form had been put in my file. Ms. Adams-White stated she had
not received anything.

It is now February 26, 2019, and I have not yet received a response from Lieutenant Cox, Captain
Laureano, Chief Rosado or any other member of his command staff.

Although I am extremely disappointed, hurt and feel embarrassed I was moved back to the patrol
division, unfortunately, I am not surprised. When I was hired to work for the City of Hartford as
a dispatcher and eventually as an officer, I have been subjected to unwanted and repeated sexual
advances and harassment from Captain Laureano. When we both were assigned to the ATF detail,
and he was my supervisor he made numerous sexual comments and advances to me and made my
working conditions uncomfortable and very stressful. I always told him no, but he would continue
to harass me. I confided in a couple of close female friends, who helped me through it. Throughout
the years, he has repeatedly made inappropriate sexual comments to me, but each time I would
ignore and or refuse him.

My removal from my position as the Northeast Community Service Officer was strictly retaliation
by Captain Laureano, just like Lt. Cox documented on the involuntary request form, “per the
request of the patrol captain.” It is not a coincidence that I was removed the same day Deputy
Chief Buyak retired and Captain Laureano assumed his responsibilities. I was the only female
CSO in the entire city and was the only CSO who was involuntarily moved back to patrol and
replaced by a white male. This is in par with the culture and ongoing mistreatment of female
officers, of all ranks, in this current administration. My attempt to bring the matter to Chief Rosado
by requesting a copy of the involuntary transfer form, which should have been fully endorsed by
him, went unanswered. Chief Rosado has ignored me and never responded to my email and for

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some strange reason, the form has not been placed inside my personnel file. I can only assume I
was removed without receiving any discipline because Captain Laureano is another member of
Chief Rosado’s “boys club,” is protected and has been heard bragging that he and Chief Rosado
are good friends because their families have attended functions together outside of work.

And to further add insult to injury, about a month after I was taken out of my position, while I was
standing in the hallway of the police station, Captain Laureano approached and without my
consent, placed his hands on my back and asked me “How am I doing?” When he said it, he was
smirking and staring at me up and down. The way he stared and touched my back made me cringe
because I did not want to be touched by him. This was another opportunity for him to harass and
flaunt his authoritative position over me. The only times Captain Laureano has spoken to me is
when he had something crude or sexual to say about me not out of concern to see how I was doing.
Furthermore, he does not need to touch me to ask me any questions.

I am a good officer and as the Northeast CSO I have excellent reviews from my former and
immediate supervisors, no sustained IAD complaints and had a great working relationship with
members and citizens of the Northeast NRZ community. I was never warned or told that my
“productivity” was not meeting a standard; for there has never been a “productivity standard” to
meet. I followed all legal and lawful directives from my supervisors, I was punctual when
reporting to work and do not abuse sick time. I was always told by my immediate supervisors,
while assigned as a CSO, that I was doing a great job. I was in the position for approximately two
years but the majority of the other all male CSO’s have served in their positions between five and
eighteen years without being moved.

I am currently assigned to unit 17 on first shift in the North District of the city. Every day I come
to work I feel embarrassed and ashamed as if I did something wrong. It is common knowledge
around the police department that when you are involuntarily moved out of a specialized
assignment such as CSO, then you are being disciplined for doing something wrong. I am being
punished for not acquiescing to Captain Laureano’s unwanted sexual advances. And since I did
not agree to partake in his lie to sign a voluntary request form, I was told that I would never become
a detective, sergeant or work in another specialized unit, and I will remain in patrol until I retire.
The fact that Captain Laureano would make such a threat in front of another female supervisor
goes to show the “non-caring, this is how business is done around here” attitude that has become
a sad norm in this chauvinistic police department.

I am requesting an investigation regarding my retaliation transfer and protection from future

retaliation from Captain Laureano, Chief Rosado or any member of his command staff. I am also
requesting action to address the systemic and chronic mistreatment of women. Female officers of
all ranks; officer up to deputy chief, are forced to work in an environment where they are harassed,
considered less than and lack career opportunities without it being a quid pro quo relationship.