After a female lieutenant with the Margate Police Department filed a complaint about the chief, she alleges things got worse. She told an investigator the rumor mill was circulating within the department about the chief’s texts about her.
The city hired an attorney to launch an investigation.
The investigation has determined there is “concern regarding potential gender bias” within the agency and “sufficient circumstantial evidence to substantiate (a) claim of harassment and hostile work environment.”
The investigation’s report finds that text messages between Police Chief Joseph Galaska and a sergeant, who is a friend, show the chief writing about the female lieutenant, “I will never ever make her a major.”
“She is not the future,” he writes, according to the report.
Now, the Margate City Commission is expected to weigh in on the matter. Among the considerations may be whether to reprimand the chief, or impose a more significant penalty. Galaska could not be reached for comment Tuesday, and a department spokesman said the agency will not comment on the investigation.
In December, Margate hired a law firm to conduct the third-party investigation regarding the lieutenant’s complaint against Galaska, in which the lieutenant alleged the chief’s texts inferred she engaged in a sex act with another former lieutenant “to advance her career,” the report says. The investigation states the woman and a former employee had a relationship more than 16 years ago, and the former employee did not have any supervisory authority over the female lieutenant.
In addition, a female sergeant alleged she was denied a promotion to lieutenant because she is female.
Ria Chattergoon, attorney and investigator, wrote in the report, that there is “concern regarding potential gender bias within the Margate Police Department. It is my recommendation that an additional investigation regarding these issues be conducted as there is growing concern among the female Police Officers regarding their ability to advance their careers within the department.
“I believe addressing these issues before potential future claims are made by any other employee of the City will be beneficial for the City.”
When Galaska was asked by the investigator about the allegations in his text message, Galaska “did not provide a response,” Chattergoon wrote. He also “claimed that despite his text messages, that he (Galaska) had no animus towards (the lieutenant) and that he was the one who promoted her from Sergeant to Lieutenant.”
Still, “Chief Galaska’s statement, to a third party, in writing, that he will “never” appoint (the lieutenant) to a Major position and furthermore, that he would remove her from Lieutenant if he could, validates (the lieutenant’s) concerns for her future within the department,” the investigator wrote.
The lieutenant “expressed concerns that the text messages are well known among the department, with some individuals, including her subordinates, having read them,” the investigator writes.
“She further indicated that snide references to text messages during morning meetings are being made in her presence and which clearly reference her complaint.
“She further stated that the terms and conditions of her supervisory authority has been undermined because of the content of the messages sent by Chief Galaska and that her subordinates are known to complain to him directly if they have any issues with her.
“Having interviewed several individuals within the department, I confirmed that the text messages have been the topic of gossip within the department,” according to the report.
The texts happened just once. But because of the “the humiliating nature of the message and the unreasonable interference with (the lieutenant’s) supervisory authority outweighs the frequency,” the investigator wrote. “Chief Galaska’s conduct ultimately creates potential liability for the City in the future.”
Now, some city leaders say they want to make changes. Multiple commissioners said they were briefed by the city manager, who privately asked Galaska to retire. Manager Cale Curtis declined to comment on the outcome of such talks. “Respectfully, I will not share the details of conversations I have with staff,” he said in an email.
Commissioner Antonio Arserio said he’ll be proposing action at a commission meeting later this month. “If he doesn’t retire, I will ask the commission to take action,” he said. “His behavior is completely inappropriate.
“I don’t want to fire anyone in public,” Arserio said. “I hope he does the right thing and steps aside.”
The City Commission has the authority to hire, fire, suspend or call for an investigation into the police chief.
Commissioner Joanne Simone also said she was “very disappointed.”
“As chief of police he should hold himself to a higher standard,” she said. “I’ve lost faith in him to lead. He does not have my support to stay.”
Other commissioners, however, said the chief shouldn’t have his career ended over the texts.
“I don’t see grounds for termination,” said Mayor Tommy Ruzzano, saying a suspension instead “would be fair.”
Commissioner Anthony Caggiano backs up that idea, saying there ought to be “repercussions” that he’ll propose instead.
“Am I disappointed with what he texted? Yes,” Caggiano said. “He incorrectly expected he was talking to a longtime friend and doesn’t realize when you’re at the top you have no friends … (But) I do not believe this warrants a firing.”
Vice Mayor Arlene Schwartz will not be backing a termination, either.
“Do I think poor judgment was used? 100%,” she said. “Do I think it rises to the level of firing? I’m not sure that it does. In fact, I don’t believe that it does.”
Galaska, who started his career with the Margate Police Department in 1995, was named acting chief in 2021 when the commission ousted Chief Jonathan Shaw.
Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com. Follow on X, formerly Twitter, @LisaHuriash