Southampton Police Promotes First Female Lieutenant

Susan Ralph, a Southampton Town police sergeant who recently filed a lawsuit against the department for ‘gender discrimination, sexual overtures and retaliation’, became the first female to be promoted to lieutenant in the department earlier this week.

Ralph was sworn in as lieutenant along with another sergeant, Todd Spencer on Tuesday during a Southampton Town Board meeting, according to Newsday.

However, despite the promotion, Ralph will be continuing with the lawsuit, which was filed on February 13 to the U.S. District Court in Central Islip, according to 27east.

“We still think she should have been promoted years ago,” Ralph’s attorney, Peter Famighetti told 27east. “The lawsuit will still go forward at this point.”

Ralph accuses both Town Police Chief Robert Pearce and Lieutenant James Kiernan of the discrimination, claiming she has been ‘retaliated against’ for talking to internal affairs officers and district attorneys during an investigation of the department back in 2012, according to 27east.

She also claims that she “was ostracized at work and stripped of several assignments, her office and her police vehicle,” according to Newsday.

Pearce praised both Ralph and Spencer for their promotion during the meeting on Tuesday, according to Newday.

“I know both Sgt. Ralph -- Lt. Ralph now -- and Lt. Spencer are dedicated professionals who motivate and lead by example,” Pearce said according to Newsday. “And I am confident they will answer the challenge of their new position of lieutenant with the Southampton Town Police Department.”

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