Four female state troopers are suing the state. They are claiming gender discrimination and retaliation.
Part of the lawsuit claims that first lady Tammy Murphy did not want a trooper, who was a new mother, to pump breast milk inside a carriage house on the Murphys’ Middletown property. That trooper was working as part of the security detail that protects the governor and his family.
The lawsuit alleges a hostile work environment where the female troopers were retaliated against and denied promotions.
“And that speaks to, in my mind, an abysmal record when it comes to recruiting and promotion. These women have a very difficult time getting promoted, so the message is clear to them - what kind of longevity, what kind of career do I face when most of the members don't even look like us,” says attorney Michele Douglass.
A spokesperson for Tammy Murphy wrote in a statement, any characterization that the first lady would not be completely supportive and accommodating of breastfeeding, pumping or any needs of a new mother in the workplace is outrageous and categorically false."