Former GPD officer sues department, claims of sexual discrimination and harassment
GREENFIELD — Former Greenfield Police Department (GPD) officer Nichole Gilbert has quietly filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Greenfield, nearly a year after being terminated following an OWI charge. The lawsuit, filed on October 23, 2023, claims that Gilbert was subjected to years of discrimination by the department, citing violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Fourteenth Amendment.
Gilbert’s case is now pending in the United States District Court of the Southern District of Indiana. Recent court records show that a telephonic status conference was held on September 17, where both parties discussed the discovery status and readiness for a settlement conference, which concluded without a further order.
In the lawsuit, Gilbert accuses the City of Greenfield of engaging in sexual discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and unlawful medical examination. She is seeking compensation for lost wages and benefits, as well as compensatory damages for both past and future losses, punitive damages, pre-judgment interest, reasonable attorneys’ fees, and any other suitable relief.
A Greenfield-Central High School graduate from 1996, Gilbert had been with the GPD since 2009, advancing from a field officer to lieutenant under the former chief, Jeff Rasche, in 2019. In this role, she headed the General Investigation and Narcotics Division. However, she requested a return to patrol under the new chief, Brian Hartman, and resumed patrol duties in the summer prior to her termination.
The lawsuit alleges that Gilbert was raped by a city mechanic in January 2017, which resulted in a protective order after a subsequent trial in which the defendant was acquitted. Following this, the mechanic allegedly created a hostile work environment for Gilbert, and when she complained about his presence in the garage, a supervisor’s response was dismissive, questioning if she was “over this yet.”
On May 27, 2021, while inspecting a vehicle at the city garage, Gilbert claimed the mechanic approached her and loomed over her, despite not being allowed in the GPD area where she often worked. The lawsuit also asserts that Gilbert was denied promotions due to her gender, as she was overlooked for the role of operations captain in favor of a male candidate, sparking complaints from her regarding ongoing discrimination.
In the wake of her firing in 2023, Gilbert alleges that her complaints about the mechanic’s sexual harassment went unaddressed by the GPD. Notably, her attempts to obtain another protective order against the mechanic in September 2022 were denied. The following day, Gilbert was placed on administrative leave and subjected to an assessment for fitness for duty. During this time, she was stripped of her weapons and identification and locked out of the reporting system, a treatment she described as humiliating.
The lawsuit details that the psychologist who evaluated her indicated she was fit to return to work, yet city officials denied her reinstatement. Further, a human resources official allegedly pressured her to resign or face an internal investigation which did not commence until December 2022, with Gilbert not being interviewed until February 2023. Ultimately, she was allowed back to work in March 2023.
Tragically, Gilbert was arrested for OWI on June 18, 2023, leading to her termination shortly after settling the case. Gilbert’s subsequent lawsuit against the City of Greenfield highlights ongoing concerns about how sexual discrimination and harassment allegations are handled within the department.
