The first female police officer in a small town has alleged she was groped and pressured to perform oral sex and make out with her male colleagues spanning four and a half years. Teresa Williams, 35, has claimed she was forced to resign from Michigan’s Iron Mountain Police Department (IMPD) after she was forced to kiss her direct supervisor Joseph Dumais, the director of police services, according to a federal lawsuit filed against three officers. Williams alleged she was pressured her into doing a Fireball whiskey shot then kissing him in order to be “initiated” into the “IMPD”.
The lawsuit states: “[Williams] refused and said the whole thing was made up. Dumais responded that it was required and that everyone had to do it as protocol.
“To allegedly demonstrate, Dumais took an initial shot along with a former county dispatcher (male) then kissed him.”
“Ultimately, [Williams] buckled to the pressure and took the ‘IMPD shot’ with Dumais who, as a result, kissed Plaintiff and stated that she was now ‘officially part of IMPD’.”
After another shot, Dumais allegedly, “Put his hand between [her] legs and grabbed her genitals,” according to the court papers.
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Williams’ former patrol partner, Garth Budek forced himself on her, according to court documents.
In another incident at Budek’s home, Williams’ was “guided downstairs” and “pressured” to perform oral sex on him, according to the lawsuit.
Williams also claimed Budek and Dumais had placed a bet on who could have sex with her first.
Williams told NBC: “Just because you wear a badge and you’re a cop, it doesn’t mean you’re above the law. It doesn’t mean you get to treat people however you want.”
Williams’ attorney, Jack Schulz, said he believes that because Iron Mountain is such a rural community, the police force does not face the same checks and balances as larger forces.
He told MailOnline: “This was her dream job in her hometown. It is appalling how these high level officers have acted with such impunity and demonstrates the courage it took for Teresa to finally speak out.
“It is my hope that her strength encourages others who feel they are in a hopeless situation to take a stand. It is my hope that congress and the Michigan legislature take a serious look into the insufficiencies in existing law which allow for abusers to walk free.
“Teresa’s case demonstrates why it is so difficult for victims to come forward in the existing limited time constraints to seek action.”
Gregory Grant, an attorney who represents all of the defendants in the lawsuit, declined to comment on the case to NBC.
He said: “With this said, the City of Iron Mountain has always been committed to creating a safe and respectful work environment for all of its employees.”
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