The first female police officer in the Michigan town of Iron Mountain has filed a lawsuit claiming that her colleagues sexually harassed and assaulted her.
Teresa Williams, who worked for Iron Mountain Police Department for over four years until she resigned, has filed a lawsuit claiming that colleagues committed sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, created a hostile work environment and engaged in retaliation.
Williams was hired as the first female cop in the rural Michigan town in 2017, but alleges that after a few weeks on the job she was forced to make out with her direct supervisor Joseph Dumais as part of a supposed 'initiation' ritual.
Advert
Her suit claims that they were at a bar when Williams was told to drink a fireball shot and kiss Dumais, with her direct supervisor telling her 'everyone had to do it as protocol' after she refused to kiss him and said she believed the ritual was made up.
Williams claims that Dumais later had her take another shot where he put his hands between her legs and 'grabbed her genitals'.
The suit also says that a colleague told her that her former patrol partner Garth Budek and Dumais had a bet on who would have sex with Williams first.
Advert
In the suit are claims that Budek forced himself on her when she was driving him home one night and made her touch his genitals, with further claims saying that he groped and kissed her without her consent.
The suit goes on to claim that on another occasion Williams was watching a movie with Budek and his wife when the officer's wife left the room and Budek pressured Williams into performing oral sex on him.
She alleged that in 2022 she met with Dumais and director of police and fire services Ed Mattson and described the meeting as being about how to help Budek rather than addressing her claims of sexual harassment and assault, and was soon afterwards told she would be fired if she did not resign.
Advert
Williams left Iron Mountain Police Department in April 2022.
She told NBC that she would 'love to be able to go back and be a police officer' again one day as the job 'meant everything to me', but fears that 'nobody would hire me back' in the small towns of Michigan.
Gregory Grant, an attorney who represents all three of the defendants, gave a statement to NBC declining to comment on the lawsuit and proceedings.
Advert
He said: "I am unable to provide any comment at this time regarding specific allegations or details as the case is pending.
"There are two sides to every story and my clients are looking forward to presenting the facts in court.
"With this said, the City of Iron Mountain has always been committed to creating a safe and respectful work environment for all of its employees."
UNILAD has contacted the attorneys of Teresa Williams, Ed Mattson, Joseph Dumais and Garth Budek for comment.
Joe Harker