Pregnant cop sues for sexual harassment after 'boss tells her to lose 13lbs'
A police officer has launched a lawsuit claiming she was sexually harassed by her supervisors - including being told she should lose weight while she was pregnant.
St Louis police officer Amanda Signorino joined the force in December 2015 and formed a romantic relationship with her boss, Lt. Jeff Hoots.
It was after they broke up in 2017 that her troubles began, she has said.
The suit claims she was subjected to "continuous and unreciprocated sexual harassment, intimidation, bullying, practical jokes and advances".
"I have been sexually assaulted, harassed and discriminated against based on my gender" she wrote in court documents obtained by St Louis Today.
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Lt. Jeff Hoots was repeatedly transferred between departments (Facebook)She continued: "After reporting the discrimination, I was retaliated against, transferred, and demoted."
She also noted that in December last year she was told to lose weight by her boss, while six months pregnant.
In 2019 a sergeant and friend of her ex's allegedly sent her pornographic material on Facebook. By then Hoots had been transferred to the Parks Ranger division, reports the Daily Mail.
It was reported and she was called into a senior officer's room to discuss it, she claims. The Facebook message was downplayed.
She was eventually transferred to another precinct, but in 2021 Hoots was also transferred there, after facing another harassment scandal when a member of the Park Rangers division accused him.
Brittney Young had accused Hoots of personally recruiting her to his division in August 2020, when she was just 21.
She accused him of making excuses to touch her up and also sent her inappropriate messages.
She said: "He did ask me, 'Do you date older men?'
Officer Amanda Signorino has launched the lawsuit (Facebook)
Officer Amanda Signorino joined the force in December 2015 (Facebook)"And I told him, 'No, I date people my age, not 50.'"
Young has now also filed a suit accusing Hoots of sexual harassment, and the wider force of not doing enough to stop him.
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This led to Hoots being transferred out of Park Rangers and back in charge of Signorino, which led to her transfer.
Signorino claims she lost income and was forced to work the midnight shift, which added to the difficulties of childcare.
Ms Signorino claims a sergeant sent her inappropriate messages on Facebook (Facebook)In December 2022, Signorino said a senior officer told her she needed to lose 13 pounds because she was overweight, despite being six months pregnant at the time.
She is seeking an unspecified amount of damages in excess of $25,000.
The county has declined to comment on an ongoing litigation.
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