NYPD sergeant files sexual harassment complaint against his male boss

Nelson Fernandez says he's 'fed up' with years of unwanted advances from his commanding officer, Deputy Inspector Thomas Connolly (below), and he has filed a sexual harassment claim

















An NYPD sergeant has filed a complaint that claims he's being sexually harassed by his male boss, the Daily News has learned.

Sgt. Nelson Fernandez, a nine-year NYPD veteran, said he's "fed up" with the unwanted advances from Transit District No. 4 commander Deputy Inspector Thomas Connolly.

Fernandez, who has filed a formal complaint with the NYPD's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, said the most bizarre come-on took place in Connolly's Union Square office.

"He'll call me in for no particular reason," Fernandez told the Daily News. "Then he'll lounge back with his feet up, and he puts a pen in his mouth and starts sucking on it in a sexual manner."

Fernandez continued: "He doesn't say a word to me. He's looking at my crotch and smiling. I give him a disgusted look and turn around and walk out."

Connolly also commented on "how sexy" Fernandez looks and how his hair is "so shining," according to a copy of the complaint provided by Fernandez's lawyer, Eric Sanders.

The complaint also alleges unwanted touching by Connolly during patrols. "The train is notcrowded, and he's on top of me ... rubbing his arm on me," Fernandez said.

Fernandez said he has tried to ignore the creepy office behavior but that it was repeated more than five or six times in the past year.

"I'm fed up with it," he said. "Everyone in the command jokes around, 'Why don't I take one for the team?' and I'm tired of that."

Last month, Fernandez told two lieutenants, and they encouraged him to report the misconduct to the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, which investigates sexual harassment.

Fernandez said he has not been subject to any disciplinary action by his boss and has received excellent evaluations.

Still, his lawyer said it's important that he came forward.

"I commend Sgt. Fernandez for shining light on an often-hidden problem of male-on-male sexual harassment," Sanders said.

Connolly declined to comment. NYPD Captains Endowment Association President Roy Richter called the allegations "false and malicious."

"Deputy Inspector Connolly is confident that he will be fully exonerated," Richter said.