HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — A school resource officer in Henry County is claiming that her former captain sexually harassed her. In a lawsuit, filed in federal court on August 16, 2022, Officer Christina Gatchel, represented by attorney Constance Cooper, claims she is one of at least eight women who reported sexual harassment by a former Henry County police captain.
Gatchel said she joined the Henry County Police Department more than five years ago. A magistrate's report states she was hired in June 2018 as a police officer before getting promoted in June 2021 where she was supervised by the now-retired captain. During that time, Gatchel was an investigator in the Criminal Investigations Division. Cooper said Gatchel investigated sex crimes and domestic violence.
Gatchel is currently a school resource officer.
11Alive will not name the former captain at this time as he is not facing criminal charges. State records show the former captain first started with the department as an officer in September 2003, getting promoted to sergeant and lieutenant, before retiring as a captain on October 6, 2021.
Cooper sent 11Alive a photo from October 6, 2021, explaining it shows where the captain, Gatchel's former supervisor, touched her inappropriately during his retirement party. Cooper added he allegedly then bragged about it to coworkers.
"It was a retirement party. All the officers were expected to attend, they were all pressured to attend," said Cooper, showing the photo behind her. "You can take a look at the photo and see how much she's trying to avoid physical contact in that hug."
Cooper added the interaction came after alleged sexual comments were made for months.
"This groping came after months of near-daily humiliation. This humiliation was in the form of sexual comments made in the presence of other officers, including Officer Gatchel's superiors, with a duty to report the harassment," said Cooper.
Gatchel spoke publicly for the first time on Wednesday.
"I'm fighting to hold the police captain who sexually battered me both criminally and civilly responsible because I want to bring lasting change to Henry County. Everyone who protects and serves, man or woman, deserves to be protected and to serve on equal footing," said Gatchel.
Cooper alleged that while an internal investigation of the police department was done after the captain’s retirement, an external investigation never happened.
"We do have concerns that are underlined by Henry County's own investigation that there's a wider pattern," said Cooper, when asked about if there are worries about the police department having a systematic problem.
The lawsuit also claimed the officer reported the incident to the solicitor's office in Henry County, but the county did not pursue charges. It alleges that Gatchel was told she "would have to swear out a warrant herself if charges would be brought."
"Officer Gatchel is moving forward with her civil case after Henry County's attempt to dismiss Officer Gatchel's claims was reviewed by a federal magistrate judge," said Cooper.
Cooper said Gatchel pursued regardless and added the former captain was allowed to enter an Alford Guilty Plea to misdemeanor sexual battery. Cooper said that the plea allows the former captain to avoid civil liability in any future lawsuits.
The Solicitor General for Henry County responded to 11Alive's request for a response to the allegations with a statement. It said in part, "Ofc. Gatchel has made untrue statements about me and my office in her civil complaint in several areas. I attempted to correct the false statements made by Ofc. Gatchel (with her and her civil attorney) to no avail."
The statement from the solicitor general also mentioned the office initiated it's own investigation and prosecution of the case after learning of the allegations.
"Upon a finding of good cause to prosecute, my office did not hesitate to draft an accusation charging [the former captain] and initiating the official prosecution of his crime," the statement reads. "Additionally, my office assigned a Victim Advocate to Ofc. Gatchel to keep her informed and up to date as required by Georgia Law."
However, the Prosecuting Attorneys Council appointed another solicitor general to take over the prosecution of the case, which culminated in a plea, according to the statement.
11Alive also reached out to Henry County Police for comment, as well as the attorneys for the county and the retired police captain. As of Wednesday evening, we have not received responses yet from the attorneys or police.