Trenton residents and city officials await results of the Department of Justice pattern or practice investigation that looked for systemic misconduct by the Trenton Police Department and City of Trenton. Launched in October 2023, investigators noted the probe could take upwards to one year. With the clock ticking on a result that could deliver mandates for policy change in both police operations and city government, another probe seems worthy regarding attitudes toward female employees within those same entities. The tort claim filed on behalf of police Lt. Alexis Durlacher identifies alleged remarks by interim Housing & Economic Development Director Arch Liston. He allegedly referenced “concentration camps” and “Nazis”, during critiques of Durlacher’s job performance. The words caused emotional discomfort for Durlacher, a woman of Jewish faith. While the obvious, in this case Listin’s alleged comments that connect to Jews tends to attract attention, a more significant investigation should focus on his and the administration’s relationships with women. We should not dismiss gender underpinnings here, especially with the number of women who have been terminated by Mayor Reed Gusciora or resigned following years of torment by both male supervisors and colleagues in police circles. Several women, including police Director Sheilah Coley and Health and Human Services Director Adela Ames-Lopez, received high praise before being hired by Mayor Gusciora then subsequently fired. Coley lasted just 14 months while Ames-Lopez a year. Massiel Ferrara worked four months as director of Housing & Economic Development before Gusciora canned her. Liston, who had resigned his chief of staff post in 2023, eventually returned to fill that vacancy. Men replaced women in the aforementioned openings as Steven Wilson filled the police director role. Dr. Diego Minacapelli assumed the role of interim Director of Health & Human Services. He replaced Maria Richardson who had served as acting director for the department after the termination of Ames-Lopez. In August, two city female police officers filed a lawsuit against the department and City of Trenton. The complaint alleges the Trenton Police Department allowed sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, bullying, intimidation, and harassment to go unchecked, even attempting to cover up incidents. The veteran officers allege Sgt. Noel Santiago on at least two occasions undressed in front of them and exposed his genitalia. The lawsuit alleges an Internal Affairs investigation headed by Capt. Guy Ponticello, a brother-in-law to Santiago, investigated and found no wrongdoing. In that same month, Sally S. Samuel, a city attorney, lost her job after unauthorized use of a City vehicle. In a letter to members of City Council, Samuel made this accusation regarding Liston. “Arch has made notable racist, sexist and misogynist comments and has engaged in discriminate conduct toward a number of City employees. Prior to my termination, I was in the process of drafting a formal sexual harassment complaint regarding Arch’s implicit sexualized gestures made towards me and other employees,” Samuel alleged. Good fortune allowed a personal read of one letter delivered to city officials by one of the aforementioned female police officers. A promise assured no details of the correspondence would be mentioned but reading her resignation letter produced belief in her allegations and dread about loving your profession but holding hatred for your job. The Trenton Police Department and City of Trenton need an investigation regarding how each treats women in the workplace. L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at [email protected].