Lawsuit Claims Commissioner Ross, PPD Leaders Ignored Harassment

PHILADELPHIA — A lawsuit claims Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross and others in the department ignored sexual harassment as well as gender and racial discrimination complaints made by two female officers. Ross resigned from the commissioner position Tuesday amid the allegations of discrimination and new information that he was involved in a two-year affair with one of the plaintiffs.

Corporal Audra McCowan, 36, and Officer Jennifer Allen, 38, filed a federal civil rights suit in late July. Their suit claims police leadership failed to address harassment complaints made by both female officers.

The suit alleges Allen was unwittingly grabbed and groped on two occasions by her immediate supervisor, Sgt. Bradford Williams, while on duty in 2012.

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Allen also said Officer Curtis Younger made inappropriate advances on her in 2014 and that those advances ramped up in 2018. McCowan also claims Younger made advances toward her in 2019.

Younger was accused by both of getting physical in his advances toward them in 2019, as well.

It also claims Allen was groped by Officer James Williams, who allegedly slapped her on the rear end on his last day at work before retiring from the force in 2016.

McCowan filed a complaint against a coworker Officer Patrick Fisher in 2015. The complaint described multiple counts of alleged sexual harassment that occurred while they were working together at the police academy, including inappropriate sexual comments, as well as unwanted physical touching, including trying to kiss her and slapping her butt.

Together, McCowan, who is black, and Allen, who is Hispanic, claim they were denied equal employment opportunity due to their race and gender.

The suit details more allegations of discrimination and harassment of Allen and McCowan, which leads to a section in which Ross is implicated in the alleged shirking of responsibility.

When McCowan told Ross about the allegations levied against Younger, Ross allegedly dismissed her concerns.

“So why don’t you just order his dumb ass to go sit down and get out of your face ‘Officer,'" Ross is reported to have said to McCowan.

The suit alleges Ross was "getting in the way of redressing her complaints in retribution for her breaking off their two-year affair, which lasted from 2009 to 2011."

McCowan and Allen have been with the department for 15 years and are married to other police officers.

Ross said to media Wednesday morning that he thought it would be better if he "moved along."

"I was not compelled to do so," he said. "My love for this city has compelled me to make a decision that is bigger than me."

Mayor Jim Kenney said Tuesday night that Deputy Commissioner Christine Coulter would act as the interim commissioner. Coulter is one of the 12 defendants named in the suit.

All defendants named are:

• The City of Philadelphia
• Ross
• Coulter
• Chief Inspector Daniel MacDonald
• Inspector Michael McCarrick
• Lieutenant Timothy McHugh
• Sergeant Eric Williford
• Sergeant Brent Conway
• Sergeant Kevin O’Brien
• Sergeant Tamika Allen
• Sergeant Herbert Gibbons
• Younger