Fired Oakton Cop Who Reported 'Systematic Gender Discrimination' Receives $81K Settlement

SKOKIE, IL — A former sergeant with Oakton's public safety department who alleged she was fired and defamed by the school after complaining of a culture of gender discrimination agreed Thursday to dismiss the federal lawsuit she filed last year. Joan Nebel worked at Oakton Community College from 2002 until she was fired in June 2015. At the time, she was also an adjunct law enforcement professor and the only woman still working at the department after she and two others filed gender discrimination complaints, according to her lawsuit.

Then-Acting Chief George Carpenter allegedly commented on one female cadet's "gorgeous eyes" before passing her up for any open positions. Another woman at the department who complained equally qualified men and women were being treated differently was fired. The suit accused Carpenter of calling that employee "useless" and a "troublemaker." After Nebel was fired, the school posted her picture and another fired former employee on posters advertising a seminar about dealing with "Problem Employees and the Games They Play," which the suit said was defamatory.

On Tuesday, the Oakton Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve a $81,000 payout, the Skokie Review learned through a Freedom of Information Act request. Oakton officials cited a confidentiality clause in the settlement agreement when declining to comment on the payment.

Oakton passed up Nebel for promotion to chief in favor of Carpenter after learning of the retirement of former Chief Dennis Nolan in 2014, even though she was more qualified, according to the suit.

When she backed up allegations of gender discrimination by the other two female ex-Oakton cops, Carpenter opened an investigation into her conduct, the suit said. That "formal investigation" resulted in her firing.

"It defies credulity to believe that Ms. Nebel could go from being an outstanding employee for 12 years to one who is allegedly dishonest, unprofessional, and insubordinate, all according to the 'formal investigation' which was initiated shortly after she engaged in protected activity," her now-dismissed lawsuit said.

» Read full federal complaint below:

_{Top photo: Advertisement for a seminar on dealing with "problem employees" posted at Oakton Community College that a former cop claimed was defamatory in a lawsuit | Court filing}