Former state police dispatcher claims retaliation in suit filed in Westmoreland Co.

WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. — A former Pennsylvania State Police dispatcher in Westmoreland County has filed a civil lawsuit claiming she was retaliated against after filing a complaint saying she was harassed at work.

The dispatcher is asking for $60,000 in the suit filed against the troopers she says retaliated against her, Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE reported.

The suit stems from an alleged incident in 2015 at the Greensburg barracks involving Trooper Eric Zona, who has since died. He was charged with misdemeanor counts of indecent assault and open lewdness.

According to TribLIVE, the dispatcher's suit claims she was repeatedly harassed and shunned by other state police personnel after a complaint was filed over the incident.

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In the lawsuit, it is alleged that a supervisor told troopers to escort the dispatcher to her vehicle at the end of her shift, TribLIVE reported. However, the dispatcher claims the troopers refused because they were afraid she would make up a sexual harassment claim.

The dispatcher also claims there were other complaints about Zona, but state police kept him on staff, TribLIVE reported.

"Despite having a zero-tolerance policy with respect to sexual harassment, defendant continued to employ Zona following his violation of the sexual harassment policy," the lawsuit obtained by TribLIVE said.

The dispatcher resigned in January 2017 because she felt her life was in danger.

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