He bought the shaft.
An NYPD’s Inside Affairs Bureau detective was sexually and racially harassed by his bosses and a co-worker – who put dildos on and round his desk in a twisted bid to torment him, in keeping with a stunning new lawsuit.
Detective Jonathan Calderon claims the mistreatment started as quickly as he joined the unit as a result of he was introduced in by longtime good friend, then-Commanding Officer Chief Miguel Iglesias, with out an interview and positioned on observe to turn out to be a detective, in keeping with the swimsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Courtroom final month.
Calderon, 38, a married dad of three who’s Colombian and a religious Christian, joined the drive in 2008, and commenced working for IAB’s Group 52, the Integrity Testing Group, in Might 2023, in keeping with the swimsuit filed by lawyer John Scola.
From virtually day one, his supervisor, Capt. Darryl Knight, who’s white, known as him “the spic” and “that spic” in entrance of different cops at roll name and through conversations, he alleges within the lawsuit towards his bosses and town.
“Every use of the slur strengthened the message that [Calderon’s] ethnicity made him inferior, unwelcome and a goal,” in keeping with the lawsuit.
Detective Alejandro Polanco-Cortiz, additionally named as a defendant within the swimsuit, “positioned a big black dildo” on Calderon’s desk and known as him a “d–okay rider” on July 13, 2023, in keeping with the swimsuit. On a separate event, Polanco-Cortiz caught a pretend orange penis to Calderon’s desk, with one other on the ground, the swimsuit claims.
In April, 2024, alleges he Calderon arrived on the workplace to discover a mounted deer head that belonged to Knight positioned in his chair. The phrase “rat” was written on his locker, and a snarling rubber rat left on his desk.
Calderon was sitting at his desk at some point when Polanco-Ortiz walked up behind him and commenced “rubbing his penis towards” his again by way of his pants and stating ‘No te gusta Bicho?’” — Spanish for “You don’t just like the d–okay?” the lawsuit alleges.
Calderon filed a sexual harassment criticism with the Workplace of Equal Employment Alternative after the incident.
Capt. Craig Roach, Knight and Polanco-Cortiz realized of the criticism and commenced to retaliate towards him, Calderon alleges, claiming they stripped him of extra time and focused him for self-discipline.
Doing issues by the e-book allegedly enraged his superiors, he claims within the swimsuit.
In late 2024, he reported the presence of alcohol within the workplace’s fridge, inflicting one among his superiors to fly off the deal with in a unit-wide assembly.
In the course of the assembly, Knight pulled out his firearm whereas lecturing the unit about not submitting complaints and shouted, “I don’t know who the f–okay is complaining!” in keeping with the lawsuit.
To Calderon, “the message is obvious, if you happen to proceed to complain we might take your life,” in keeping with the lawsuit. After the menacing incident, Calderon reported the three cops to the EEOC.
Calderon was then given a failing three out of 5 rating at his annual analysis, and the stress brought on him to endure a rash on his face and swollen lips, the swimsuit alleges.
Knight seen the swelling and “loudly” introduced that Calderon “has herpes,” in keeping with the swimsuit.
When Iglesias was changed in 2025 by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch after the ex-Chief of Division Jeffrey Maddrey sex-for-overtime scandal, the harassment grew even worse, the swimsuit claims.
In early 2025, Knight, who owns a flower store known as Entrance Porch Flora in Smithtown, Lengthy Island, approached Calderon and informed him “I want two individuals of your form to work,” in keeping with the lawsuit.
When Calderon requested what he meant, Knight responded “spics” and mentioned “I choose those with no papers,” in keeping with the swimsuit.
Knight additionally repeatedly known as Calderon homosexual and pulled his personal pants down in entrance of him. Calderon, who’s 5-foot-10 and 245 kilos, was additionally frequently mocked and known as “fats.”
Within the lawsuit, Calderon claims he took a monetary hit on account of the lack of extra time that compelled him to take out greater than $40,000 in pension loans in 2024 and 2025 to feed his household and pay his mortgage.
Calderon was transferred to a different group in IAB in Might 2025. Knight was transferred to the Brooklyn Courtroom Part on Sept. 15, the place he stays, in keeping with the swimsuit.
Calderon informed The Publish that these officers who “bullied and humiliated me” lacked professionalism and “fundamental human dignity.”
“These had been individuals who had been alleged to be my colleagues, my brothers and sisters and the very ones entrusted with upholding the best moral requirements,” he mentioned.
“As a substitute, they used their positions to demean and assault me.”
Scola mentioned the case “exposes supervisors who used racial slurs, sexual humiliation, and retaliation as administration instruments,” Scola mentioned. “We hope that by way of Detective Calderon’s brave determination to take authorized motion, we may help dismantle the tradition of impunity that has plagued NYPD officers for years.”
The town didn’t reply to an e-mail searching for remark. Knight mentioned “no remark” when reached by cellphone. The opposite two defendants didn’t reply to calls.
“The NYPD doesn’t tolerate sexual harassment and is dedicated to respectful work environments for our numerous workforce,” an NYPD spokesperson mentioned. “These allegations are beneath inner overview.”
