Several female NYPD officers say supervisors made Imus-like remarks

By: Associated Press | Tuesday, April 24, 2007 12:54 PM PDT ∞

NEW YORK -- Several female police officers have accused sergeants of insulting them by echoing the remarks that led to the firing of radio host Don Imus.

A narcotics detective who is a 15-year veteran of the New York Police Department said Sunday that a sergeant told her on April 12 not to give him "lip," or he'd call her "a nappy-headed ho," the same phrase used on the air by Imus.

The comment "cut me to the core," said Detective Aretha Williams. "I find it disrespectful, racist, sexist. It can't be tolerated."

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly condemned any use of the terms. "This language is unacceptable under any circumstances and even more egregious when it comes from individuals in positions of authority," he said in a statement.

CBS Radio fired Imus from his nationally syndicated radio program on April 12, eight days after he used the term to describe the Rutgers women's basketball team, which includes eight black women.

Another sergeant has been reassigned pending an investigation after being accused of referring to several female officers as "hos," said Michael Collins, assistant chief of public information for the police department.

A lawyer for the female officers said the sergeant used the word during a meeting April 15. Another officer then chimed in and called them "nappy-headed hos," said the lawyer, Bonita Zelman.

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