Settlement reached with Huntington police

HUNTINGTON - The Huntington Police Department reached a settlement with a female officer who claimed she was sexually harassed by co-workers.

Stephanie Swann will receive $125,000 as a result of the lawsuit she filed in January 2005.

She said male officers passed around a sexually explicit drawing of her, called her sexually explicit names and belittled her for being a woman.

Swann also said she was denied advancement within the department because of the conduct.

She was represented by Charleston attorney John A. Singleton, whose fee is included in the settlement. The amount is not known, though, as both sides agreed not to specify to the media.

The Herald-Dispatch in Huntington had to file a Freedom of Information Act request with the city to obtain the basic settlement information.

Duane Ruggier of Charleston firm Pullman, Fowler and Flanagan represented the City of Huntington.

Police Chief Gene Baumgardner was listed as a defendant for failing to stop the harassment, though no individual officers were named.