HYDE PARK – A female Hyde Park Police officer is suing the town, a former member of the department, and a current lieutenant of the department with a claim of gender discrimination. The lawsuit was filed on August 10, 2022 by officer Jacquelyn Tucker, who is married to the Hyde Park Police Department PBA President, Detective Joshua Tucker.
Officer Tucker waited until November 2020 to file a complaint with the town’s compliance officer alleging that in February 2019, Sergeant Martin Monaco, who relocated to Maine in January, while serving as Tucker’s supervisor, allegedly announced that he had sexual fantasies about Tucker and another female officer. The lawsuit indicates that Monaco’s statements were made in the presence of others.
According to the lawsuit, Monaco was required to participate in sexual harassment prevention training. Officer Tucker’s attorney also claims that Monaco received no disciplinary measures because the claim allegation was 18 months after the incident.
The lawsuit also alleges that longtime Hyde Park Police Department employee, Lieutenant Paul Caccia, an 18-year veteran of the department, made a sexual comment to Tucker and another female officer during an April 2019 in-service training. Mid-Hudson News was unable to find any documents indicating that either officer filed a complaint about the alleged incident.
A fellow officer, speaking to Mid-Hudson News and asking for their identity to be withheld, said the lawsuit is going to hurt the department. “The allegations may be true but I think she waited until she was turned down for a promotion to raise the issue. It would be okay but she didn’t even apply for the promotion,” the officer said. “It’s going to hurt all of us because her husband is our union president and it puts us in an awkward position. How can he negotiate for us while his wife is suing the people we work for?”
Town Supervisor Al Torreggiani declined to comment, telling Mid-Hudson News, “It is inappropriate for town officials to comment on pending litigation.”
