Harvard University is being sued by yet another veteran police officer for age discrimination.
Sgt. Martin Gaughan, a veteran of the Massachusetts State Police, has filed a federal lawsuit against the head of the police agency and Harvard University.
According to the 60-year-old Walpole man, he was denied promotions with the Harvard Police Department because he was older, which is against the law.
Sarah Burger of Burger Law Group PLLC, Mr. Gaughan’s attorney, told the Herald, “Our case alleges that Harvard did not promote Mr. Gaughan to Lieutenant or Captain because of his age, there is no other legitimate non-discriminatory reason.”
For thirty-one years, Gaughan served with the Massachusetts State Police as a trooper, sergeant, and lieutenant.
According to state pension records, his current yearly pension is $114,038, or $9,503 each month.
After retiring as a Lieutenant in the Massachusetts State Police with thirty-one years of cumulative law enforcement experience, Mr. Gaughan joined Harvard in 2020, Burger stated.
Gaughan was assigned to the patrol division and oversaw officers when he first joined the Harvard Police Department.
According to the lawsuit, he was frequently commended for his work performance and earned pay bonuses that were more than the typical bonus plan amounts.
The police chief then retired in 2020, and Victor Clay became the next chief in 2021.
According to Gaughan, Clay began keeping him out of decisions and conversations regarding the cops assigned to his shift.
Clay then declared in December of that year that the police department was reorganizing and adding four new captain positions. Gaughan submitted an application to be a captain.
According to the lawsuit, he thought he did well in the interview and provided professional and knowledgeable answers to all of the panel’s questions.
Gaughan was not chosen to serve as captain.
According to the lawsuit, Sergeant Gaughan had more experience and all four of the nominees were younger.
According to the lawsuit, Sergeant Gaughan feels that Harvard and Chief Clay acted unfairly and discriminatorily against him due to his age by not promoting him to captain.
Gaughan then submitted an application to become a lieutenant.
According to the lawsuit, he was informed that during a conference with officers who were all under Gaughan’s command, Clay made insulting, mocking, and degrading remarks about Gaughan.
In the end, he was not appointed lieutenant. Gaughan reiterates his claim that he was more qualified than the lieutenants.
According to the lawsuit, Gaughan has suffered and still suffers from lost income, lost benefits, reputational damage, emotional distress, and legal fees, costs, and interest.
Related Articles
-
Harvard researcher who was taken into ICE custody at Boston Logan has been indicted
-
Harvard gets other universities backing in Trump funding fight
-
Pomp and politics at Harvard
-
Federal judge extends order blocking Trump administration ban on foreign students at Harvard
-
Harvard grads cheer commencement speakers who urge the school to stand strong
Regarding the lawsuit, a Harvard University representative chose not to comment.
A few months ago, a veteran Boston police officer reported that he experienced discrimination during his tenure with the Harvard Police Department. Robert Harrington, a Cohasset resident, sued Harvard for age discrimination on a federal level. Gaughan’s motion is similar.
