A former Bridgeport police department employee is suing ex-Deputy Police Chief James Baraja and city officials, alleging she was wrongfully terminated after reporting a pattern of sexual harassment. The federal lawsuit, filed on October 22, claims the employee suffered extreme humiliation, mental anxiety and emotional distress due to Baraja’s conduct and that the defendants created a hostile work environment, Hearst Connecticut Media Group reported.
James Baraja crossed professional boundaries
The complaint filed in Bridgeport federal court paints a picture of a workplace environment that crossed professional boundaries into personal intrusion. According to the lawsuit, James Baraja visited the employee’s home without an invitation, sent her unwanted gifts, and contacted her via phone during her off-duty hours.
The allegations extend beyond simple boundary-crossing. The suit claims Baraja made comments regarding the employee’s physical appearance and specifically asked her to “hook him up” with her younger sister. These actions, the plaintiff’s attorney John Bochanis argues, created a hostile work environment that left the employee feeling humiliated.
Retaliation through scheduling and transfers
The legal battle isn’t just about the harassment itself, but how the Bridgeport Police Department responded when the employee sought help. The lawsuit alleges that in early 2023, the employee submitted a formal complaint to the department’s internal affairs division detailing Baraja’s behavior.
Rather than finding relief, the employee claims she faced immediate professional penalties. The suit alleges she was transferred to a different department—a move described as retaliatory—that required her to work weekends. This transfer directly violated a previously negotiated hardship agreement that had guaranteed her position would not include weekend hours.
While the federal complaint is explicit about the hostile environment and the retaliatory transfer, it does not provide specific details regarding the final circumstances that led to the employee’s dismissal from the force.
The battle over the Jackson Lewis report
A central point of contention in this case is a missing piece of evidence: a probe conducted by the law firm Jackson Lewis. The firm finalized its report into the allegations last November, yet the public has not seen it.
City officials have fought to keep the document under wraps, arguing that it is protected by attorney-client privilege. For the plaintiff, this lack of transparency adds another layer to the grievance, as the findings of the internal probe remain shielded from public view while the lawsuit moves forward in federal court.
“The harassment caused the employee to suffer ‘extreme humiliation, mental anxiety and emotional distress,'” wrote attorney John Bochanis in the court filing.
Employee seeks damages and professional restitution
The employee is seeking a combination of monetary damages and professional restitution. The lawsuit requests at least $15,000 in monetary damages, along with back pay, attorney fees, and reimbursement for costs incurred during her job search following her termination.
The defendants have largely remained silent as the case begins. A lawyer representing James Baraja declined to comment on the allegations. Similarly, legal representatives for Police Chief Roderick Porter and the police department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
