A New Jersey lawyer filed a lawsuit accusing a Sussex County sheriff’s officer of putting a metal detector wand up her skirt when she visited the county jail in August, NJ.com reported on Monday.
Bonita Bourke claims that after she set off the metal detector at the Sussex County jail, corrections officer Sean Long “inappropriately” put his detection wand in between her legs and up her skirt, according to NJ.com
Bourke said that she objected to Long’s use of the wand, but was allegedly told that it was necessary for him to use the wand in that way before she could enter the jail. Bourke claims that Long put the wand between her legs a second time after she objected, according to NJ.com.
In the lawsuit, Bourke accused Long of sexual harassment and said his actions “created a hostile environment in a place of public accommodation.”
She initially filed the lawsuit in October, but amended the suit in January, claiming that the Sussex County sheriff’s office retaliated against her after she filed the lawsuit, according to NJ.com.
Attorney John Gonzo, who represents the Sussex County officers, said that “all the allegations have been denied,” according to NJ.com. Gonzo said that video footage does not show Long putting the wand up Bourke’s skirt.
I’m not overly familiar with these wands, but I must ask: Under the same circumstances, the metal detector being set off, would the security person not also need to perform a fairly close body scan (by wand) to the male? – Meaning, would the wand be scanned in between the man’s legs, fairly close to his crotch? If so, then I’m not seeing this as any type of inappropriateness except, perhaps, if I were the wand holder I’d likely state BEFOREHAND that I’d be performing the closer exam due to metal detector, etc. Crossing people’s physical space is very personal and needs to be done with care (when needed to be done at all).
Another cop trying to skirt the law.
Since they are claiming that the action was not performed, rather than claiming that it was standard procedure, I would guess that the answer is “No.”
This is the same Sheriff’s Dept that employed Dennis Pegg, an alleged child molester, for many years. They ignored complaints for years until ultimately he was murdered by one of this victims.
Attorney John Gonzo, who represents the Sussex County officers, said that “all the allegations have been denied,” according to NJ.com. Gonzo said that video footage does not show Long putting the wand up Bourke’s skirt.
No doubt the video has been doctored , the relevant part cut out .