State Rep/Ex-Cop Steve Smyk Implicated In Sex Discrimination/Harassment Suit
Far be it from me to sensationalize allegations pertaining to any of the cop-legislators in Dover (he lied), but this case promises to be Sensational.
It features Steve Smyk (rhymes with Dick), and, yes, he comes across as quite the dick. Allegedly. Oh, and also Speaker Pete (alleged oral history).
If you have a subscription, read away.
We’ll start with some fair use:
A lawsuit filed by a female former Delaware State Police trooper accuses police officials of ignoring years of sex discrimination and harassment, implicates current state Rep. Stephen Smyk as one her harassers and claims overtime fraud occurs in the police unit that protects the governor.
The lawsuit was filed last week in federal court by former Sgt. Nicole Oldham, who worked as a state trooper for more than 15 years. The suit states she was denied benefits and work available to her male counterparts and that she was the subject of sex-based smear campaigns by male officers who went undisciplined by leadership.
Oldham began her career with Delaware State Police in 2002, becoming a barrier-breaking female in the department where male officers currently outnumber women almost seven to one, the lawsuit states. She was voted class president of her police academy, began ranking up faster than her academy counterparts and was a nominee for trooper of the year by 2004.
One of the earliest examples listed in the lawsuit involves Smyk, who had a decades-long career with Delaware State Police, is the past president of the influential Delaware State Troopers Association and is currently representing the Milton area in the Delaware House of Representatives. Reached by text message, Smyk declined to comment saying he had not read the complaint.
The lawsuit states that “early” in Oldham’s career,” Smyk, then a state trooper, circulated an email falsely stating that she conducted a traffic stop with her child in her car and the car was stolen.” In the email, Smyk wrote that this “FEMALE trooper” should not be on the job and indicated he was reporting this to help out his “brothers” in state police, the lawsuit states.
That’s about as much as I can safely excerpt, but there’s a whole lot more in the article. By all accounts, Oldham is an exemplary officer, who rose through the ranks despite ongoing harassment. I mean intolerable harassment.
The Speaker Pete cameo?:
In 2013, she was assigned to the State Police’s Executive Protection Unit, which is charged with protecting the governor, lieutenant governor and their families. She was the first woman named by merit to lead the unit, the lawsuit states.
When she was promoted to the division, male troopers placed a photograph and a message in her mailbox claiming she earned the prestigious position by performing oral sex on Delaware House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, who is also retired from state police.
The lawsuit claims that officers on the unit are typically afforded a free housing benefit, but when she asked for that benefit, a lieutenant told another male sergeant, “she can suck my d*ck.”
If even a scintilla of her allegations are true, this represents an incredibly-toxic culture at work. It would prove that State police, who are about to once again get their pensions padded, are a law unto themselves.
Forget about the civil suit, although I can’t imagine anybody subjecting themselves to yet more harassment for coming forward with false charges. This calls for a full-blown criminal investigation by anybody but the cops themselves. BTW, will any of the cop fellators on the House Ethics Committee do anything about this? Oh, and Speaker Pete? You might want to strip Smyk of his committee posts until this is resolved. Especially the Judicary Committee. If it’s the proper punishment for Darius Brown, then it certainly is for Smyk. Also from the Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee. And the Corrections Committee. Until these allegations are resolved, he has no business near any committee dealing with law enforcement.
One last thing–there had better be no cover-up of what appears to have been a years’-long cover-up of this disgraceful behavior.
Smynk whistling past the graveyard in this cape gazette coverage:
Oldham demands a trial by jury and is seeking compensation for lost pay and benefits; punitive damages under the Civil Rights Act and Delaware’s Discrimination in Employment Act; attorney’s fees and costs; and a permanent injunction that would expunge Oldham’s personnel files of any derogatory, false, or misleading information.
In the event the two sides settle out of court, any settlement made between Oldham and the Delaware State Police and Department of Safety and Homeland Security would be confidential under Delaware law that keeps details of settlements secret. Rep. Steve Smyk, R-Milton, who is named in the lawsuit, said he would love to see legislation passed that would open such settlements between the state and individuals for public review.
“I think it would be wonderful, because it’s full disclosure to the public. It’s money,” he said.
(snip)
Smyk said he could not comment on the pending litigation, but added there is another side to the story.
“I didn’t do anything that could put my job or family in jeopardy,” he said.
Smyk said he would like the case to go to trial because he can provide witnesses who would prove he did nothing wrong.
The 20th is Lewes/Milton. With demographic changes in Milton’s population that district should be blue.
There’s so much more in the article that I didn’t even touch on due to fair use. I did not cherry-pick the worst stuff. It’s ALL bad, real bad.
I got a very bad taste in my mouth with Smyk when he was pushing a bill that gave constables in public schools the same legal rights as SROs. I explained how their training was NOT the same but he didn’t care. Believe the bill got tabled eventually. But this is huge. Question is if there will be any accountability. Betting odds, given Delaware’s history, will be a big fat no!
Kevin,
You are so correct when you say given Delaware’s history, there will not be any accountability. How do you know that? I know it through my work here and as a female.
Are there any mug-shots available yet?
It’s a civil lawsuit.
So far.
I want to file a civil lawsuit against Smynk for this:
…claiming she earned the prestigious position by performing oral sex on Delaware House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach..
No-one should have to endure that or endure reading that sentence.
These people are sick. We give them weapons and entrust them with the public’s safety. Every single cop who has taken part in this should be fired. No cushy pensions, either.
BTW, you can write the sentence for the PIO:
“We don’t comment on personnel matters.”
Interesting, but not unexpected, the State Police think their a law unto themselves. Hoping this shines a light on their doings and hopefully forces Smyk out as well.
Gee, it’s almost like ACAB was onto something…
The Cape Gazette made a slight note about it. People in the district don’t even know about it. We should flood their letters to the editor section calling for his resignation, so people are aware.
Neither journal nor gazette identified Smyk as being the one sued
The Journal identified her allegations against Smyk. They are disgraceful enough to at least warrant taking the relevant committee assignments away from him.
As much as I’d like to see Smyk taken down, as a rule it’s probably not a good idea to sanction legislators any time someone names them in a civil suit. But neither is it acceptable for Pete to protect Smyk.
He’s on three committees that deal in some fashion with law enforcement. He should be removed from those three committees. I’m not calling for him to be removed from ALL committee assignments.