NYPD Captain Accused of Sexual Harassment, Creating Hostile Work Environment
A lawsuit filed by an NYPD officer alleges a captain subjected her to unwanted advances, sexually explicit comments, and retaliated against her when she refused him.
A New York City Police Department captain allegedly transformed his precinct into a hostile environment for a female officer after she rejected his advances, according to a lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court. Officer Maria Delacruz claims Captain Amanjeet Sandhu, who commanded Transit District 1 in 2023, repeatedly made sexually explicit comments, suggested intimate encounters, and sent her lewd messages.
Delacruz alleges that Sandhu began assigning her as his driver in March 2023, shortly after he took command. Over the course of the year, the suit claims Sandhu made frequent comments about her body, including her breasts and buttocks. According to the lawsuit, Sandhu told her, “If I was your man, I would slap that ass all the time,” and suggested she remove her protective vest so he could stare at her breasts.
The lawsuit further states that Sandhu told Delacruz about "dreams in which he was having sex with her" and, on one occasion, allegedly attempted to kiss her against her wishes while in a departmental vehicle. Delacruz states she rejected his advances, reminding him that he was married and telling him to stop. Sandhu allegedly responded by saying he wanted her to regard him as a lover and indicated he would leave his wife for her.
At a 2023 holiday party, Sandhu reportedly grabbed Delacruz’s arm and insisted she leave with him, stating, “You’re coming with me tonight.” When she refused, he continued to grip her arm painfully, the suit alleges.
By the summer of 2024, sexual rumors involving Delacruz and Sandhu had allegedly created a workplace hostility, leading to confrontations with other officers. Delacruz claims she was accused of "f—ing the captain" in the women's locker room.
After coworkers reported concerns to Deputy Chief Steven Mauriello, Delacruz confronted him on July 17, 2024, about the rumors. Mauriello reportedly told her, “I’m not the only one saying that. Everyone here thinks that.”
Delacruz also alleged that when she was interviewed by the Internal Affairs Bureau regarding the locker room incident, Mauriello pressured her not to mention the sexual harassment. She claims he offered to transfer her to any location she desired if she limited her statement to the locker room incident. Delacruz accepted the transfer and did not report the alleged harassment to IAB at that time.
Sandhu allegedly continued his alleged campaign of harassment even after Delacruz's transfer. In September 2024, he reportedly sent her a WhatsApp message containing a pornographic video. The suit describes the video as depicting a woman manually stimulating a naked man. Delacruz responded with shock and disgust, according to the lawsuit. Subsequently, Sandhu allegedly sent messages questioning how many dildos she owned, how frequently she had sex, and how often she masturbated.
In late 2024, Sandhu allegedly sent Delacruz a photograph of a woman wearing revealing clothing. Delacruz, who has since been transferred to Manhattan North Patrol borough, stated her hope that her lawsuit will encourage other female officers to report abuse.
The lawsuit names Sandhu, Mauriello, the Police Commissioner, and others as defendants, seeking unspecified damages. The NYPD stated it had not yet been served with the lawsuit and would respond once received. The suit highlights recent sexual harassment allegations within the NYPD, including previous cases involving other high-ranking officers.