CHICAGO (AP) — A suburban Chicago police officer has filed a federal lawsuit alleging the police chief refused to modify her duties when she became pregnant and later forced her to take unpaid leave months before she gave birth.
Jennifer Panattoni sued the village of Frankfort this week. Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, who are representing Panattoni, argue that the village violated the federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act.
Panattoni, a senior patrol officer and 14-year veteran of the department, says the department refused to give her a protective vest or uniforms that fit over her growing belly or to reassign her to a non-patrol position.
Frankfort Village Administrator Rob Piscia says the village believes it complied with state and federal law and “the village intends to defend these allegations.”
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
