The Takoma Park City Council has released its response to an independent audit related to the Cooper v. City of Takoma Park case, a lawsuit involving allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation within the Takoma Park Police Department.
In a statement, Mayor Talisha Searcy said the City Council “took decisive steps” to retain an outside legal firm to conduct a “thorough and impartial review” of the City’s handling of the allegations and internal processes.
“As Mayor of Takoma Park, I want to speak sincerely to our community and staff regarding the independent audit related to the Cooper v. City of Takoma Park case,” Searcy said. “We have carefully examined the audit’s findings and recommendations, and we are committed to implementing necessary changes to ensure our policies and practices meet the highest standards of accountability and transparency.”
According to the report, the case stemmed from allegations brought by a former Takoma Park Police Department employee against a then-TPPD sergeant in 2022. The City said the department launched an internal investigation after learning of the allegations, substantiated the sexual harassment claims, and ultimately demoted the sergeant to the rank of private, barred future promotions, and required additional training.
The former employee also alleged harassment and retaliation by other City employees. The City stated that subsequent investigations and administrative reviews did not substantiate those additional claims.
The lawsuit was settled out of court in March 2025 for $1 million, which the report states was paid entirely by the City’s insurer and did not involve City funds.
Following the settlement, the Takoma Park City Council unanimously voted in April 2025 to authorize an independent audit of the City’s handling of the investigations. In July 2025, the Council selected Stinson LLP to conduct the review.
According to the report, the audit included interviews with current and former City employees, reviews of previously recorded interviews from earlier investigations, and analysis of more than 200 documents, including City policies, investigative files, and legal records.
The Council concluded that the TPPD’s investigation into the sexual harassment allegations was “thorough and comprehensive” and said criticisms raised during litigation were based on “misunderstandings and incomplete information.”
The Council also found that investigations into retaliation and harassment allegations were “satisfactorily conducted utilizing appropriate investigative practices.”
However, the report stated that the City “did not adequately communicate the investigation outcome to the former employee in a timely manner” and cited management turnover and uncertainty surrounding Maryland’s Police Accountability Act as contributing factors to inconsistent communication regarding disciplinary outcomes.
Among the recommendations outlined in the report are:
- Continuing to use third-party investigators for future sexual harassment and retaliation complaints
- Creating a more transparent process for communicating investigation updates and outcomes to complainants
- Establishing clearer procedures for disciplinary decision-making and documentation
- Maintaining annual sexual harassment and retaliation training for employees
- Increasing coordination between Human Resources and Internal Affairs during investigations
The City Council said the full audit report will remain confidential to preserve attorney-client privilege and protect sensitive personnel information.
