A state police trooper is claiming she was passed over for promotions on the force in retaliation for her husband’s role as a whistleblower.
Lauren Spallone of Unity, a 14-year veteran with the Pennsylvania State Police and a sergeant since 2019, claims in a lawsuit filed in Westmoreland County court she was passed over for promotions at least eight times while less-qualified troopers were elevated to lieutenants and captains.
Spallone says her career stalled because her husband, also a Pennsylvania State Police trooper, served as a whistleblower when he reported allegations that a supervisor’s political beliefs impacted a criminal investigation.
“Since Sgt. Jordan Spallone made his report of wrongdoing, Sgt. Lauren Spallone has also been passed over for promotions which she is well qualified. The PSP has informed her through her supervisor that Sgt. Lauren Spallone is being passed over because she is Sgt. Jordan Spallone’s wife,” according to the lawsuit.
Myles Snyder, communications director for the state police, declined comment on the lawsuit.
Lauren Spallone claims her husband, while serving as a sergeant at the Kiski Valley barracks of the state police, questioned the actions of his supervisors regarding another trooper’s decision to file charges stemming from a traffic stop in April 2020. Troopers initially charged the unnamed couple in that case with offenses including defying Gov. Tom Wolf’s stay-at-home order during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Spallones said a...
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