A New York Police Department officer, Alisa Bajraktarevic, has filed a lawsuit against the department, alleging that her career has been derailed after her topless image was circulated among fellow NYPD officers.
Bajraktarevic, 34, claims that the image, sent to Lt. Mark Rivera whom she dated briefly in 2012, was shared in a group text by Rivera and subsequently spread within the department. Despite her reluctance, she was discouraged by union delegates from filing a complaint.
Officer Bajraktarevic Alleges Image Circulation Amid Union Discouragement
The situation escalated when officers surrounded her car during an investigation into her boyfriend, leading to further complications.
Bajraktarevic denied any involvement in her boyfriend’s alleged drug dealing, while a bystander recording the incident was charged with resisting arrest. As news of the investigation spread, so did the topless photo, along with personal information such as her parents’ address.
Feeling violated and bullied, Bajraktarevic expressed her distress, stating, “It’s pretty repulsive.
For 12 years they decided to keep this on their phone? It spread like wildfire.” Despite attempts to address the issue, including suspension without pay and orders to disassociate from her boyfriend, the NYPD failed to investigate those who shared her image without consent, an act now deemed illegal.
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NYPD Officer’s Lawsuit Exposes Departmental Disregard for Female Officers
Bajraktarevic’s attorney, John Scola, highlighted the NYPD’s disregard for its female officers, citing the “illegal invasion of privacy.”
Seeking unspecified damages from the city, Rivera, and another supervisor accused of sexual harassment, Bajraktarevic hopes to shed light on the pervasive issue of bullying within the department.
Reflecting on her aspirations to serve as a police officer, Bajraktarevic emphasized the need for her colleagues to understand the consequences of their actions.
Meanwhile, the city Law Department has stated its intent to review the lawsuit, while the NYPD reaffirmed its commitment to a respectful work environment but declined to comment further on the ongoing litigation.
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