Tim Ryan tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Shawano Police Chief Mark Kohl is being sued in federal court by one of his officers who claims Kohl delayed hiring her at the department because of her gender.
Officer NiCole Hoffmann maintains Kohl declined to hire her in July 2014 because the department at that time was not interested in additional female officers.
According to the complaint, Hoffmann finished third on a list of potential new hires.
When the first two male applicants on the list were offered the job and turned it down, Kohl bypassed Hoffmann and offered the post to the fourth-ranked male applicant, who was “substantially less qualified and less experienced,” according to the complaint.
The complaint details a conversation Hoffmann said she had with Kohl after being passed over, during which she asked why she was not hired.
“I’m only telling you this so you don’t beat yourself up,” Kohl said, according to the complaint. “You’re a great cop. I hear great things about you, but we don’t want to hire another female right now. You can have the next job in January.”
According to the complaint, Kohl told Hoffmann there were “too many females on night shift,” and an experienced male was needed on the night shift, “to carry the weight.”
Hoffman was later hired at the department in January 2015.
Kohl said he could not comment on the lawsuit and referred questioned to Assistant City Administrator Eddie Sheppard.
Sheppard said the city was still gathering information on the matter and had no comment at this time.
Hoffmann is seeking “damages in compensation for the injuries caused by defendant’s unlawful conduct and punitive damages for defendant’s malicious or wanton violation of her rights,” according to the complaint.
The complaint alleges Kohl’s actions resulted in “a substantial loss of income and benefits, both in the past and future, emotional and psychological distress, and loss of reputation, humiliation and embarrassment.”
Kohl’s actions “adversely impacted Hoffmann’s seniority status, which, in turn, has adversely affected and will continue to adversely affect her promotional opportunities, work schedule, vacation picks and other terms and conditions of employment,” the complaint alleges. “These losses, both tangible and intangible, will be ongoing for the rest of Hoffmann’s career.”
The complaint also seeks punitive damages against Kohl “in order to deter him and others similarly situated from such wrongful conduct in the future.”
There was no amount of damages specified.
Hoffmann is seeking a jury trial in the case, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Green Bay.
Hoffmann was previously an officer with the Bonduel Police Department and a part-time transport deputy for the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department.
She worked as a reserve deputy for Waupaca County in 2008 and was promoted to reserve sergeant before resigning in 2013. She also worked part-time with the water patrol on the Chain O’ Lakes.
Hoffmann worked special details for Shawano County while on the Bonduel police force in 2012 and was put on the road as a uniformed patrol officer in 2013.