BREAKING NEWS

Lawsuit Accuses Town Manager Schwapp of
Sexual Harassment and "Fraternity" Favoritism

By Peter C. Frank
The Bloomfield Dispatch

BLOOMFIELD, CT — A lawsuit filed in Hartford Superior Court alleges that Town Manager Alvin D. Schwapp, Jr. sexually harassed a senior police administrative assistant and then orchestrated a campaign of retaliation when she reported it.

The complaint, discovered by The Bloomfield Dispatch during a routine review of active litigation against the Town, alleges that municipal decision‑making in Taylor’s case was driven by personal connections over professional ethics, and that internal investigations were used against vulnerable employees.

Note: The defendants have not yet filed a formal response in court, and the allegations in Taylor’s complaint have not been proven.

The Allegations

The Plaintiff, Wendy Taylor, a senior administrative assistant who had served the Bloomfield Police Department for over 11 years, alleges she was subjected to a hostile work environment, sexual harassment, and discrimination based on her sex, race, and status as a domestic violence survivor. Her complaint brings claims under the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act and related state statutes protecting employees and domestic‑violence victims from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

The lawsuit focuses on an incident alleged to have occurred on December 20, 2024. According to court documents, shortly after Taylor returned from a 14-week administrative leave, Town Manager Schwapp approached her at a police department ceremony.

The complaint alleges Schwapp engaged in "unwelcome physical contact," including "pulling her in for an unwanted hug" and "grabbing and holding both of her hands 'like at a wedding.'" The filing claims Schwapp repeatedly commented on her appearance, telling her "how good she looked" approximately six to ten times while she was visibly uncomfortable.

Witnesses, including a Police Sergeant and Lieutenant, reportedly observed Taylor’s discomfort during the interaction.

The "Fraternity" Connection

Some of Taylor’s most serious allegations focus on how the Town handled the investigation into her complaints.

The lawsuit describes her 14‑week paid administrative leave as “unprecedented” for a Bloomfield police employee in similar circumstances, citing past practice where leave was counted in days, not weeks. The complaint states that the leave was for using her work email to communicate with her attorneys regarding her domestic violence situation—communications her supervisors knew about that were necessitated by safety concerns.

Crucially, the complaint alleges a conflict of interest in the investigation. Taylor’s court filings state that the Town appointed Attorney Andrew Crumbie to investigate her, even though Crumbie is a “fraternity brother” of Town Manager Schwapp and a former Connecticut State Police officer and colleague of Taylor’s ex‑husband, her alleged abuser.

Taylor's lawsuit claims this "fraternity network" worked to protect the powerful while targeting her. The lawsuit states that while she was suspended for months for personal email use, male officers who used email for similar personal reasons were not investigated because the Town claimed "it would take too long."

A Pattern of Retaliation

The complaint outlines a timeline suggesting immediate retaliation for speaking out:

• 📅 June 20, 2025:
  Taylor met with a town investigator to formally report Schwapp’s alleged sexual harassment.
• 📅 June 23, 2025:
  Just three days later, at Schwapp’s command, the Town notified Taylor she was the subject of a new internal investigation regarding a promotional dispute.

The lawsuit claims this "investigation-retaliation" cycle caused Taylor to suffer a medical breakdown, resulting in a diagnosis of PTSD. She has not returned to work since.

Police Chief Sidelined?

Notably, the complaint suggests that Bloomfield Police Chief Paul Hammick attempted to support his employee but was overruled by Town Manager Schwapp. The filing states that Chief Hammick requested a pay modification for Taylor due to her increased workload—a request Schwapp denied. Additionally, when Schwapp and Crumbie accused Taylor of impropriety regarding her work schedule, the Chief confirmed she had authorization for a flexible schedule, yet the investigation against her continued.

Status of the Case

The case, Wendy Taylor v. Town of Bloomfield and Alvin D. Schwapp, Jr., was returned to court on December 2, 2025. The Plaintiff is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as reinstatement and the removal of disciplinary records.

The Bloomfield Dispatch has reached out to plaintiff's attorney, Eric R. Brown, as well as the Crumbie Law Group, Town Manager Alvin D. Schwapp, Jr., and the Town of Bloomfield for comment. We are awaiting responses and will update this story as more information becomes available.