Chapter 10: The Sting of Discrimination

In September 1977, approximately one year and 8 months after starting her work on morals cases, Joan was informed that she was being transferred. Her new commanding officer, Colonel John O'Donovan was in charge of the Bureau of Investigative Services and the Major Crime Unit in Boston. He was best known by the nickname "O'D"

At the initial meeting, O'D informed Joan and another female trooper that they were being routinely transferred because he would be better able to oversee their work and provide a higher level of assistance and support to them when needed. She clearly remembered him speaking about bringing in dogs and helicopters whenever a situation called for it. He smiled and seemed pleased to welcome them to his command. However, his true personality would show itself much too soon.

Almost immediately he started questioning the need of the women working at the various barracks and police departments throughout every phase of the cases. His first move was to inform them that they would only go out on a case to take the initial statement and must return to his office immediately thereafter.

This was a giant step backward as they were used to being involved in a case from beginning to end, and were then reduced to not more than a secretary. This order hampered their ability to grow in knowledge and expertise while it also ruined their working relationships with the SP Barracks and local police departments. After a short while, the requests for female trooper's assistance stopped coming in, because no one wanted to deal with O'D.

To build upon this injustice, when a case came into the Major Crime Unit, he would yell, "C'mon guys!!! We're out on a case!!! You two girls stay here and answer the phones." They went from troopers to secretaries to receptionists. He stole their careers!

The other female trooper soon requested a transfer out of his office. She was willing to go back out on the road at this point. Joan hung around waiting for the proper time to request her transfer. She hoped to work at a local District Attorney's Office, which would open up her ability to work Morals Cases again.

After six months, Joan submitted a request for transfer to the local District Attorney's Office. O'Ds answer was, "No. There aren't enough females to go around." Joan knew what he meant was that since there weren't enough females to staff each and every DA's Office, she would have to stay put. This concept was in stark contrast to everything Joan had been told throughout her career, especially while she attended the SP academy. The instructors there had made it very clear that she would not be afforded any special or preferential treatment because of her gender. She was expected to perform to the same standards as her male counterparts. Yet, now she was being punished because of her gender.

Regardless, Joan remained determined and submitted the same request three months later. O'D warned her, "Don't you write any more letters. You're not going to be transferred." So Joan didn't submit anymore letters requesting the transfer. Every three months, she went to see him in person instead. Four years later she said to him, "We have 29 women on the job now. I want a transfer." He smirked at her condescendingly and said, "You had better make up your mind that you are in the Boston Office for the rest of your career." For the first time Joan got bold and replied, "If you will not transfer me, I will handle this myself!" His smirk only grew wider. She left his office and took the rest of the day off.

Before leaving the building however, she walked across the hall to see her Association Representative. She still remembers his expression when she asked for the Association's help. He was a good man and he cared, but he seemed apprehensive as he said, "Joan, they can argue this is for the 'good of the job'." She sensed a pleading in his voice which said, "Please don't ask me handle the first female discrimination case." This was understandable considering his close proximity to O'Ds office which was literally steps away. Still stinging from this most recent mistreatment Joan knew what she had to do and replied, "It's ok, I'll do it myself."

Next, Joan went to O'Ds secretary and asked if she'd like to also file a complaint. O'D had been sexually harassing this particular woman for years. She told Joan that she had been reduced to tears more than once as he would wait until no one was around, then sneak up behind her and whisper in her ear, "I'm so horny." He did this on a regular basis. After her initial attempts to have him stop this behavior, he was angry and would frequently remind her, "Remember, I'm watching you!" She interpreted that to mean he was going to discipline her for some imaginary wrongdoing. She declined to file a complaint, because she was due to retire in a couple of years and was afraid he would do something to ruin her retirement benefits. Joan figured that was a bit of over reach, and thought, "How could O'D have the power to block someone's retirement?"

Then Joan went to the third female trooper assigned to the Major Crime Unit. Even though she was new, she had already felt the sting of O'Ds harassment. She declined to file a complaint as well. However, she was supportive of Joan's decision, and would be very helpful a few months later when she wrote two articles in the Trooper Publication entitled; 1)Discrimination (March 1982) and 2) That Dirty Word Again (April 1982). These articles conveyed truth when false rumors, innuendos, and repercussions were coming at Joan from all angles. (See Chapter 13, Trooper Publication)

Alone...Joan headed to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination!!!