Captain Patricia Helliger filed a lawsuit against the City of New Haven and then-Chief Dean Esserman in 2016, alleging ongoing harassment, intimidation, and discrimination based on her race and gender. The lawsuit detailed instances of derogatory messages and denial of privileges afforded to other supervisors. In January 2019, the city settled the case by paying Helliger $52,500 and providing letters of recommendation from the former chief and the mayor. The settlement included a clause preventing future claims and disparaging statements about the department.
[Return to blog post](https://watchaudits.com/patricia-helliger-new-haven-police-department/)
.
