Alleged sex-harassment victim fights for day in court

Officer Jason DeMent, who claims he was dismissed from the Haddon Township police force because he rebuffed his supervisor’s sexual advances, continues to plead for his day in court.

 

DeMent, an 11-year veteran of the force, was dismissed in October after allegedly refusing to accept the sexual advances of Chief Mark Cavallo. But township officials maintain DeMent was dismissed due to a vision impairment that shows no signs of improvement. They want U.S. District Judge Robert G. Kugler to dismiss most of DeMent’s claims, before a jury can consider them.

Township officials have claimed that DeMent cannot perform basic job duties, and it wouldn’t be reasonable to indefinitely accommodate him with “light duty.”

“Since [DeMent] is unable to perform the essential functions of his job as a police officer, the township has no duty to provide him an accommodation as a matter of law,” a recent township filing states. 

But in an April 18 reply brief, DeMent reiterated his plea for reinstatement. He said he can perform modified job duties until his vision impairment — known as Stargardt’s Disease — improves with experimental stem-cell therapies.

DeMent also accused the township of prematurely placing him on medical leave against his will, paving the way for his dismissal on Oct. 28 and the discontinuation of all workplace health benefits.

“In retaliation for [DeMent’s] complaints of discrimination, defendants informed Officer DeMent that he would be terminated at the conclusion of his forced [medical] leave. He was, in fact, formally terminated on Oct. 28, 2015. Defendants’ actions constitute willful discrimination, interference and retaliation in violation of [federal law].”

But township officials refute that claim as well.

“[DeMent] did have a serious health condition that precluded him from working as a police officer when he was placed on leave,” according to a township filing. 

The township also claimed DeMent hasn’t demonstrated his vision will improve with experimental stem-cell therapies. 

DeMent has claimed that Cavallo made sexually oriented comments at work, touched him inappropriately and tried to kiss his neck, and repeatedly propositioned him for sex. 

Township spokesperson Dawn M. Pennock denied reports of Cavallo’s imminent retirement. “Chief Cavallo is not retiring at this time,” Pennock said in an email.

Kevin Callahan, a spokesperson for the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, declined to say whether the agency is investigating Cavallo. “We do not have a comment when charges have not been brought,” Callahan told PGN. 

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Tim Cwiek has been writing for PGN since the 1970s. He holds a bachelor's degree in history from West Chester State University. In 2013, he received a Sigma Delta Chi Investigative Reporting Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for his reporting on the Nizah Morris case. Cwiek was the first reporter for an LGBT media outlet to win an award from that national organization. He's also received awards from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, the National Newspaper Association, and the Keystone Press.