A police officer in the US who slept with six co-workers has broken her silence on the sex scandal, claiming her bosses ‘took advantage of her vulnerabilities’ and used it for ‘sexual pleasure’.
Earlier this week, it was announced that five police officers in Tennessee have been fired and three remain suspended following a scandal within the La Vergne Police Department.
Maegan Hall, the only female officer fired in connection to the scandal, came forward with claims that she was 'groomed for sexual exploitation' in a new federal lawsuit against the department.
The 24-year-old was fired back in January, with an internal investigation finding that Hall and other male officers had been having sex while on the job and then denied doing so.
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According to the investigation, Hall had been 'engaged in a sexual relationship' with six of the above officers - including two 'while on duty and inside city owned property'.
The police chief and two sergeants were among those implicated in the scandal.
Since the story broke, Hall has become the target for sexualised jokes and taunting.
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Speaking to News Channel 5 Nashville, she said: "I received harassing and threatening messages on my phone daily. I felt like I had been terrorized."
Now she is suing the city in federal court, alleging a hostile work environment.
Hall said: "I know what most people are saying. 'You could have said no.' I get it. But my response to them is that I did say no, and he wouldn't take no for an answer. Eventually, I gave in from the pressure.”
She concedes she participated, but under duress, arguing that the salacious details of the story put her at centre stage without telling the whole story.
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Hall continued: "They isolated me. Shunned me. They accused me, and they blamed me for becoming a victim.”
She added: "My supervisors worked together to take advantage of my vulnerabilities and mental health, and they used it for their gain and their sexual pleasure.”
Hall said no woman ‘should ever have to endure this type of abuse’, and that what happed to her at the police department ‘should never happy to anyone’.
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"Who do you turn to when the chief of police is sexually harassing you?” she asked.
“How can I get justice when the entire system, including the chief, not only condoned such behavior but participated in it? I was lost, and I felt alone. I had no one to turn to and nowhere to go.”
In a statement commenting on the investigation and resulting teminations and suspension, Police Chief Burrell Davis said: "This is a difficult situation for our department and for the city, but I want to be clear that the actions of a few do not represent this department as a whole.
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"We have sufficient staff to cover all of our patrol shifts and I have full confidence in our officer’s ability to protect and serve. We are working diligently to rebuild the trust of our citizens and our community.
"We understand this will take time and diligence from our command staff and officers to repair the honor and integrity of our department."
UNILAD has reached out to the La Vergne Police Department for comment.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivor’s Trust for free on 08088 010 818, or through their website thesurvivorstrust.org
Jess Hardiman