17-Year Veteran of Dayton Police Department Terminated After Filing Discrimination Lawsuit
On October 3, 2017, 17-year-veteran of the Dayton Police Force, Sgt. Tonina Lamanna, was terminated from her position. Prior to her termination, Sgt. Lamanna had an impeccable record and a great respect within the community. Her only disciplinary issues have happened very recently since the attorneys at Walton + Brown filed her civil rights lawsuit against the City of Dayton for discrimination.
Sgt. Lamanna was the first EVER female in the patrol operations division of the K-9 Unit of the Dayton Police Department. She was committed to her job and has always been passionate about the K-9 Unit. Sgt. Lamanna’s termination arises after her ongoing ordeals perpetuated over a period of several years in her quest to serve the city of Dayton.
Sgt. Lamanna initially applied for a position of Canine Handler with the City of Dayton Police Department in 2010. Despite being the most qualified candidate, she was not offered the position. During her interview for the Canine Handler position, Plaintiff was subjected to inappropriate gender-related questions; such as what she would do if she got pregnant and if she felt she was strong enough to handle a canine. Considering the discriminatory nature of these questions, Plaintiff filed a charge of discrimination with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission and was eventually offered the position of Canine Handler in January of 2011.
Sgt. Lamanna has been subjected to harassment since she initially filed her first complaint with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission in 2010 and the harassment intensified when she placed as a top candidate on the Police Sergeant civil service exam in 2014.
Walton + Brown LLP initially filed Lamanna's lawsuit against the City of Dayton in September of 2016 and alleged, among other things, that she’d been (1) denied training, (2) required to provide medical slips when taking leave although others (white males) have not been required to provide similar medical slips, (3) denied leave time, (4) subjected to adverse changes in the department policies with respect to retired canines and the amount of time commitment required.
In what we believe was direct retaliation for filing the lawsuit, the City of Dayton terminated Sgt. Lamanna on October 3, 2017. The termination was based on a subjective interpretation of events that allege Sgt. Lamanna has been untruthful and filed false documents. Given her stellar career, her commitment to her position, and the high regard she receives from her peers, it seems unlikely Sgt. Lamanna knowingly made false statements or falsified any evidence. Many of the men that are responsible for the charges against Sgt. Lamanna are the same men that are the subject of Sgt. Lamanna’s civil Complaint. The connection between the parties and the discipline against Sgt. Lamanna is too strong to be merely coincidental.
Sgt Lamanna’s is devastated she has been terminated from her position and notes:“There was no greater honor for me than the day that I became a police officer. I took the oath to serve and I took it seriously. I worked hard for the City of Dayton for seventeen years and I never got any discipline until I started complaining about the unfair treatment I was receiving. I am scared of the message this sends to me and to other women who are looking to become police officers.”
Sgt. Lamanna intends to continue to fight for her rights and the rights of other female officers. She plans to appeal her termination and will also file a charge with the EEOC for wrongful termination.
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Walton + Brown, LLP.
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