Commander claims sexual discrimination complaint led to her transfer

The Cincinnati Police Department is facing a discrimination complaint from one of its own.

A veteran police captain who held command of the largest police district in the city says she was transferred involuntarily after filing a sexual harassment complaint.

Captain Kim Frey has worked her way up the chain of command to one of the top positions any  woman has held at the Cincinnati Police Department.

Next week she marks her 30th anniversary on the force.

She says she lost the job of her dreams when Chief  Tom Streicher transferred her in April, after she filed a sexual harassment complaint.

Captain Frey was the commander of District 3, based in Price Hill, until her transfer to the Police Academy, where no recruit class is scheduled. She says besides losing a command position, she's lost income because there's no overtime.

Frey filed her complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the first step toward a possible lawsuit.

Captain Frey told 9 News Monday afternoon she's devastated and heart-broken.

"This has not been easy for me to get here. This has been very difficult. All I know to do. I've got to defend myself. I want my job back. I want to be treated like the 30-year member of this department I am. I want to be treated like the member of the command staff that I am. I have given the city 30 years of my life, hard-working-years."

This is the first complaint Captain Frey has filed in her 30 years on the force.

The EEOC will look into the complaint and could mediate a solution but either way, after 180 days, Captain Frey is free to file a federal lawsuit.

9 News placed a call to Chief Streicher and asked for an interview, but we have not heard back from him.