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By Ann Marie Somma NAUGATUCK -- A Naugatuck Police officer has notified the borough she intends to file a discrimination lawsuit against the police department, according to a letter filed Monday at Town Hall. Police Officer Caroline O'Bar intends to sue the Police Department and Police Chief Dennis "Ned" Clisham for "poor and inaccurate performance evaluations," failing to consider her for a promotion and special assignments, denying her overtime and special schooling, and for slander, according to the letter signed by Tracy L. Norris, an attorney with the New York-based firm Maya & Associates, P.C. O'Bar has worked at the department for several years, but according to Norris' letter, the alleged discrimination she suffered occured from Oct. 24, 1999 to the present. The attorney added that the instances of discrimination violated the officer's civil rights as well as the Family Medical Leave Act. The letter also states that O'Bar has filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Labor, the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Both the human rights commission and equal oppportunity commission are investigating O'Bar's accusations. Clisham could not be reached for comment Wednesday. O'Bar, a patrol officer, has said she will not comment on the lawsuit, and referred all questions to her attorney, Joseph C. Maya. Maya, who has handled well-known discrimination lawsuits involving women, would not comment on O'Bar's lawsuit. O'Bar is one of fewer than five women among 53 sworn officers at the Naugatuck Police Department.
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