The officer encouraged a coworker to report sexual harassment by a sergeant who was perceived to be close to the police chief and he corroborated her complaints.
Finding a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether West Texas A&M University investigated and suspended a police officer—who had corroborated a female officer’s claim she was the victim of sexual misconduct by a sergeant—solely based on his recording of a phone conversation between the department chief and the assistant chief, the Fifth Circuit reversed summary judgment against his Title VII retaliation claim. The court found ample evidence the chief was upset by the continued investigation of the sexual harassment complaint and, on several occasions, made statements that he “was ready to start stacking bodies.” Judge Wilson concurred in the judgment (Crawford v. West Texas A&M University, No. 25-10887 (5th Cir. Sept. 18, 2026)).
Six years after he began working for the university, the officer learned from his coworker that she had been a victim of sexual misconduct by a sergeant. Although the officer told her that he had to report it to the Title IX office, she initiated a complaint against the sergeant herself and several other female officers also filed complaints against him. As a result, the officer did not believe he had an independent reporting responsibility. He did, however, participate in the initial investigation and did corroborate his coworker’s allegations.
Should be punished. The...
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