He received the shaft.
An NYPD’s Inside Affairs Bureau detective was sexually and racially harassed by his bosses and a co-worker – who put dildos on and round his desk in a twisted bid to torment him, in keeping with a surprising new lawsuit.
Detective Jonathan Calderon claims the mistreatment started as quickly as he joined the unit as a result of he was introduced in by longtime buddy, then-Commanding Officer Chief Miguel Iglesias, with out an interview and positioned on observe to turn into a detective, in keeping with the swimsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Courtroom final month.
Calderon, 38, a married dad of three who’s Colombian and a religious Christian, joined the power in 2008, and started working for IAB’s Group 52, the Integrity Testing Group, in Could 2023, in keeping with the swimsuit filed by lawyer John Scola.
From virtually day one, his supervisor, Capt. Darryl Knight, who’s white, known as him “the spic” and “that spic” in entrance of different cops at roll name and through conversations, he alleges within the lawsuit in opposition to his bosses and town.
“Every use of the slur bolstered the message that [Calderon’s] ethnicity made him inferior, unwelcome and a goal,” in keeping with the lawsuit.
Detective Alejandro Polanco-Cortiz, additionally named as a defendant within the swimsuit, “positioned a big black dildo” on Calderon’s desk and known as him a “d–okay rider” on July 13, 2023, in keeping with the swimsuit. On a separate event, Polanco-Cortiz caught a faux orange penis to Calderon’s desk, with one other on the ground, the swimsuit claims.
In April, 2024, alleges he Calderon arrived on the workplace to discover a mounted deer head that belonged to Knight positioned in his chair. The phrase “rat” was written on his locker, and a snarling rubber rat left on his desk.
Calderon was sitting at his desk sooner or later when Polanco-Ortiz walked up behind him and started “rubbing his penis in opposition to” his again by way of his pants and stating ‘No te gusta Bicho?’” — Spanish for “You don’t just like the d–okay?” the lawsuit alleges.
Calderon filed a sexual harassment grievance with the Workplace of Equal Employment Alternative after the incident.
Capt. Craig Roach, Knight and Polanco-Cortiz realized of the grievance and started to retaliate in opposition to him, Calderon alleges, claiming they stripped him of additional time and focused him for self-discipline.
Doing issues by the ebook allegedly enraged his superiors, he claims within the swimsuit.
In late 2024, he reported the presence of alcohol within the workplace’s fridge, inflicting one in every of his superiors to fly off the deal with in a unit-wide assembly.
Through the assembly, Knight pulled out his firearm whereas lecturing the unit about not submitting complaints and shouted, “I don’t know who the f–okay is complaining!” in keeping with the lawsuit.
To Calderon, “the message is evident, for those who proceed to complain we could take your life,” in keeping with the lawsuit. After the menacing incident, Calderon reported the three cops to the EEOC.
Calderon was then given a failing three out of 5 rating at his annual analysis, and the stress brought on him to undergo a rash on his face and swollen lips, the swimsuit alleges.
Knight seen the swelling and “loudly” introduced that Calderon “has herpes,” in keeping with the swimsuit.
When Iglesias was changed in 2025 by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch after the ex-Chief of Division Jeffrey Maddrey sex-for-overtime scandal, the harassment grew even worse, the swimsuit claims.
In early 2025, Knight, who owns a flower store known as Entrance Porch Flora in Smithtown, Lengthy Island, approached Calderon and informed him “I would like two individuals of your variety to work,” in keeping with the lawsuit.
When Calderon requested what he meant, Knight responded “spics” and stated “I desire those with no papers,” in keeping with the swimsuit.
Knight additionally repeatedly known as Calderon homosexual and pulled his personal pants down in entrance of him. Calderon, who’s 5-foot-10 and 245 kilos, was additionally usually mocked and known as “fats.”
Within the lawsuit, Calderon claims he took a monetary hit because of the lack of additional time that compelled him to take out greater than $40,000 in pension loans in 2024 and 2025 to feed his household and pay his mortgage.
Calderon was transferred to a different group in IAB in Could 2025. Knight was transferred to the Brooklyn Courtroom Part on Sept. 15, the place he stays, in keeping with the swimsuit.
Calderon informed The Publish that these officers who “bullied and humiliated me” lacked professionalism and “fundamental human dignity.”
“These had been individuals who had been speculated to be my colleagues, my brothers and sisters and the very ones entrusted with upholding the best moral requirements,” he stated.
“As a substitute, they used their positions to demean and assault me.”
Scola stated the case “exposes supervisors who used racial slurs, sexual humiliation, and retaliation as administration instruments,” Scola stated. “We hope that by way of Detective Calderon’s brave resolution to take authorized motion, we can assist dismantle the tradition of impunity that has plagued NYPD officers for years.”
Town didn’t reply to an e-mail in search of remark. Knight stated “no remark” when reached by telephone. The opposite two defendants didn’t reply to calls.
“The NYPD doesn’t tolerate sexual harassment and is dedicated to respectful work environments for our numerous workforce,” an NYPD spokesperson stated. “These allegations are beneath inside evaluation.”
