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Phoenix police commander files gender discrimination lawsuit
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Phoenix police commander files gender discrimination lawsuit

PHOENIX, AZ — A Phoenix police commander has filed a lawsuit alleging that top police leaders tolerated discrimination and retaliation.

Commander Amy Breitzman filed the federal lawsuit last Friday after filing previous complaints with the city’s Department of Equal Employment Opportunity and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Breitzman, who has worked for the Phoenix Police Department for nearly 30 years, alleges discrimination based on sex, a hostile work environment and retaliation.

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According to the lawsuit, Breitzman had filed complaints against deputy director Nick DiPonzio “alleging that he treated women differently.”

Her lawsuit said DiPonzio tried to deprive her of her latest promotion by saying she was “unfit,” even though she had performed better than any other applicant.

According to the court filing, when Breitzman asked another deputy director to do something about DiPonzio’s behavior, his “inaction perpetuated gender discrimination and retaliation.”

Breitzman also claims she was later “removed from her position in the chief’s office” and was “ignored and undermined… in front of her direct reports and peers.”

ABC15 first aired a story about Breitzman’s discrimination allegations in April. At the time, her attorney questioned why drafts of the city’s Department of Equal Opportunity investigative reports, including the substantiated portion of her complaint, were never finalized.

At the time, a city spokesperson told ABC15 that the Phoenix Police Department is “committed to maintaining a respectful and inclusive workplace for all of our employees.”

The city also said an outside investigator had been hired to finish the case on Breitzman’s complaint, but four months later, the commander’s attorney said he had not been contacted or received a final report.

Do you have any news? You can contact Melissa by email at Melissa Blasius (in English) or call 602-803-2506Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) @Melissa Blasius either Facebook.

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