Officer exiled to toll booth because of pregnancy gets $100K settlement

If you are being watched, leave now!

Date: 

November 10, 2015

"There's no reason for her to take a leave or to essentially take a demotion working in the toll booth," said Penny Venetis, the executive vice president and legal director for Legal Momentum, an advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the rights of women and girls.

Venetis said her organization has represented DiPalo since the beginning of her case, and contended that pregnant law enforcement officers should be allowed to stay on the job until they see fit to take maternity leave.

"If her doctor says that she can carry out her regular duties, I don't see what the issue is," she said, calling the TBTA's previous practices "primitive."

"It's outrageous. It's 2015. It's not 1935. It really shouldn't be happening, Venetis said. "As long as they are able to do their job effectively, they should not be forced out because they are having a baby."

Ms. DiPalo is back on patrol, Venetis said.

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