DETROIT – A former Detroit Public Schools Community District police officer has filed a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit against the district.
Kelley Mays and her attorney held a press conference Saturday where they announced the $1 million lawsuit.
Mays said she was demoted and eventually fired after reporting incidents of sexual harassment from the district’s former chief, Ronald Johnson.
“He made some very vulgar and sexist comments to her,” Mays’ attorney Eric Frankie said.
Mays said the harassment happened in 2021. She was fired last month. She said the district fired her for having a secondary job that conflicted with her work at DPSCD.
“The very people that Kelley had complained to about sexual harassment and did nothing about it were the ones who fired her based on false charges,” Frankie said.
During the press conference, Mays and her attorney also released a surveillance video showing an unrelated officer having his weapon taken from him by a young student.
The incident happened at Keidan Special Education Center.
“The student waved the gun around and put his own life in danger and other people’s lives in danger,” Mays said.
The officer quickly recovered the weapon from the student.
Mays was asked why she included this incident in her sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit.
“It shows the direct retaliation and harassment that I received, being written up on false allegations, but this guy . . . he did not receive any discipline and why is that?” Mays said.
Local 4 reached out to DPSCD for comment but has not heard back.