NEW ORLEANS -- Kira Godcheaux-Boudreaux filed a federal complaint on August 12 in the Eastern District of Louisiana against the City of New Orleans and the New Orleans Police Department for sexual harassment/hostile work environment and retaliation.
According to the complaint, Godcheaux-Boudreaux was an officer under the supervision of a district sergeant and held various roles including detective, undercover agent, field training officer and Police Officer 4, which is the most senior level officer within the department.
In September 2016, Godcheaux-Boudreaux was hurt on duty, suffering injuries to her neck and back and was put on restrictive duties. On June 20, 2020, while assisting a co-worker, Donna Alexander, with an online report, Godcheaux-Boudreaux was allegedly sexually assaulted by Sergeant Stephanie Tallion, though the complaint does not specify what Tallion's conduct was.
Tallion was in full uniform with a sidearm when this happened, the suit says. Godcheaux-Boudreaux did not report this for fear of retaliation, but an anonymous report was made later to the NOPD Public Integrity Bureau, where a full investigation was done, the suit says. Godcheaux-Boudreaux alleges continually being harassed and intimidated during the course of the investigation, including being moved to different units, dead birds being left on her threshold and her vehicle windows shattered.
Godcheaux-Boudreaux seeks compensatory, special, punitive and other damages; back pay and front pay, attorney's fees and cost of suit. Godcheaux-Boudreaux is represented by Ravi Sangisetty.
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana case number 2:21-cv-01525-EEF-DMD