A Skokie police sergeant has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging she has been passed over for promotion eight times, despite having the Skokie Police Department’s highest level of job ratings, due to her gender.
According to the lawsuit, filed June 21 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Sergeant Melissa Russell seeks back pay for lost wages and benefits, a promotion to commander, front pay if appropriate and compensatory damages, as well as punitive damages against Police Chief Jesse Barnes, former Police Chief Brian Baker, and Commander Timothy Gramins, among other demands.
Per the lawsuit, Russell was passed over for a promotion to commander eight times since December 2017, despite receiving a higher assessment score than a male co-worker who was promoted to commander in 2022. According to a news release from the village, that male co-worker was later promoted to deputy police chief in January 2024.
The lawsuit said the department has historically promoted employees to the rank of commander only after they complete a course at Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff & Command. The male co-worker who was promoted had not attended a course at the time, but Russell had done so, according to the lawsuit.
“Certain supervisors, including Gramins, made complaints about Plaintiff just before the promotional process in an effort to lower Plaintiff’s promotability score and/or to negatively impact her ability to be promoted,” the lawsuit said. Gramins, Barnes, and then-chief Baker sat on a committee that evaluated candidates for promotions to commander.
The 13-count, 23-page lawsuit says that the defendants created a hostile work environment towards women and retaliated against Russell when she complained about unlawful gender discrimination for exercising her rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
According to the lawsuit, “Commander Gramins has subjected (Russell) to greater scrutiny than male employees, including constantly observing Plaintiff working in her office even though Gramins was never (her) supervisor.”
According to the lawsuit, Baker and Barnes forced Russell to use vacation days instead of sick days for medical treatments stemming from a work-related injury. However, the lawsuit said Baker and Barnes did not force male employees to use vacation days instead of sick days for medical treatment.
Barnes gave additional work to Russell as a part of a specialty unit and she was not compensated for that time, the lawsuit said.
The village’s Communications and Community Engagement Director Patrick Deignan released a statement on behalf of the village, saying “The Village of Skokie and the Skokie Police Department provide employees an equitable and professional work environment that accommodates all individuals and values diversity.
“The allegations in this litigation are entirely without merit and are in direct conflict with the Department’s well-established organizational standard of excellence, fairness, and respect. The Skokie Police Department maintains a strong and ongoing commitment to serving the community by maintaining this standard of excellence while providing opportunity and promoting diversity throughout its ranks.”
“As with any litigation involving personnel, the Village has engaged outside counsels to represent it in this matter and cannot offer further comment at this time.”
The Skokie Police Department has promoted some women in recent years.
In 2022, Denise Franklin became the department’s first female commander, according to previous reporting. Nearly two years later she was promoted to Deputy Chief, also according to previous reporting, and was the first woman in that position and also the village’s first Black Deputy Chief.
Per court records, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Judge Sunil R. Harjani scheduled an initial hearing status for the case on Sep. 10 at 9:15 a.m. by telephone. “The Court expects all defendants who have been served with process to participate in the scheduling conference even if they have not yet responded to the complaint,” court records stated. Members of the public will be able to call in and listen to the hearing, but will be placed on mute.
