$1.5 Million Settlement

Case Handled by The Derek Smith Law Group Attorney Derek Smith

Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York

The Derek Smith Law Group secured a $1.5 million settlement on behalf of John Doe, a former New York City police officer who suffered years of homophobic harassment, discrimination, and retaliation while serving in the NYPD. The plaintiff, a gay man, rose to the rank of detective, third grade, before being forced to leave the department due to intolerable, systemic abuse. Shape, Picture

Case Summary

From the moment the plaintiff entered the NYPD after graduating at the top of his Police Academy class, his sexual orientation became the target of hostility. Once it became known that he was gay—partly due to his visible association with a local LGBTQ+ law enforcement group—he faced unrelenting abuse from fellow officers and supervisors alike.

At his earliest assignments, colleagues spread his sexual orientation across precincts by calling ahead and encouraging other officers to “make his life hell.” The abuse escalated when he was assigned to the Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB), where two sergeants quickly deduced his orientation and began leading a campaign of daily slurs, homophobic jokes, and sexual humiliation—including being referred to as a “meat gazer,” “faggot,” and other slurs. One supervisor performed sexual gestures with fruit and directed them at the plaintiff in front of other officers.

Despite multiple complaints to Internal Affairs and direct supervisors, no meaningful action was taken. Instead, retaliation intensified. The plaintiff was called a “rat” and a “snitch,” labeled with a derogatory sign, and ultimately stripped of his service weapon and referred to a department psychologist—not for treatment, but to question whether he intended to sue.

The harassment was not limited to verbal abuse. The plaintiff was forced to perform dangerous solo midnight patrols in high-crime areas, a duty usually conducted in pairs or teams. He was also repeatedly assigned to clean human waste in holding cells, tasks typically reserved for maintenance staff. On at least one occasion, he was ordered into a holding cell alone with violent detainees while carrying metal tools—placing his life at risk.

One particularly traumatic moment came when a prisoner, upon seeing the plaintiff, shouted to officers, “Is this the faggot you were talking about?” The plaintiff was humiliated and broken. Shortly after, he walked into NYPD headquarters and resigned, unable to endure the torment any longer. Shape, Picture

Legal Claims

• Sexual orientation discrimination under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws
• Hostile work environment
• Retaliation for objecting to discriminatory conduct
• Constructive discharge resulting from sustained emotional and physical endangerment

The case included evidence of:

• Systemic homophobia by supervisors
• Physical danger used as retaliation
• Career sabotage and reputational damage
• Documented mental health trauma, emergency room visits, and long-term psychiatric care

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Legal Impact

This settlement holds the NYPD accountable for maintaining a hostile and dangerous environment toward an officer based solely on sexual orientation. It underscores that government agencies are not exempt from civil rights obligations, and when internal complaint systems fail, civil litigation can bring justice.

“This case was about courage,” said The Derek Smith Law Group attorney Derek Smith. “Our client stood up against a powerful institution that tried to silence him for being who he was—and for demanding to be treated like a human being.”