Holmdel Settles Police Gender Discrimination Lawsuit For $80,000

Holmdel Township has agreed to settle a lawsuit with a female officer who alleges that she wasn’t hired for a position with the municipal police force because of her gender.

According to court documents, Holmdel resident Stephanie Geisel claimed that the township offered jobs to three men – allegedly less qualified than her – even though she ranked 2nd on the civil service eligibility list.

In the lawsuit, Geisel claimed that Police Chief John Mioduszewski did not want female police officers to serve on the force.

According to the lawsuit, Holmdel statistically employed less female police officers and only had one female officer at the time of Geisel’s complaint.

That officer was allegedly scheduled to leave the force on maternity leave at the time Geisel’s lawsuit was filed, which would have left the department without a female officer if she wasn’t hired, according to the original complaint.

As part of the settlement, the township agreed to give Geisel $80,000 in exchange for dismissal of her lawsuit.

Geisel had sought instatement as a police officer with the Holmdel Police Department or front pay in lieu of reinstatement, back pay as a “make whole remedy,” compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorney’s fees, pre and post judgement interest and an “injunction prohibiting further acts of discrimination.”

According to the lawsuit, Geisel holds a master’s degree in accounting from Kean University, is proficient in the use of firearms and holds memberships with groups such as the International Defense Pistol Association and the United States Practical Shooting Association, was previously employed as a police officer in Sea Bright, Highlands, Keyport and Freehold Township, and completed the Police Training Course at the Monmouth County Police Academy, graduating 2nd in her class.

See the full lawsuit online here.