%PDF-1.5 Laura and I believe Black was given his marching orders on that day (November 4, 2011) to get rid of her case along with the Schwab Taliaferro case, partially supported by the following: During the November 4, 2011 off camera recording of Black and Ross Erickson, you can hear the following: Black: I have so much to lose. Web[1.] Eventually the DCI attorney said, 'Well, we got a new phone system.'". (no offense to the Girl Scouts). For <>>> Weighing onZylstra Kaisers mind, though, was a 2005 experience in which shehad reported another co-worker for sexual harassmentand gotten the wrong response from the boss: Her then-supervisor, Assistant Director Brian Zeeb, said her complaint could be seen as a sign of weakness and made a comment along the lines of, In the future, if you want a promotion or transfer to a new duty station, some may see this incident as your inability to get along with others. Rather than undertaking an investigation, Zeeb forced her to confronther harasser. MN Attorney General Lori Swanson wouldnt put up with it. I told my attorneys, 'I didn't sue Marty Jackley and i'm not going to enter into a contract with Marty Jackley.'". endobj Kaiser said she'd been patient and asked for a "good faith payment," of "anything? In our society we do have courts of laws that seek the truth, in South Dakota justice is what the republican party says it is, and we also have the court of public opinion which can be as valuable as a court of law. She now runs her own private investigation company. That lack of cooperation from her co-workers led to job consequences for Zylstra Kaiser: On December 8, 2011, Assistant Director Dan Satterlee informed Plaintiff she met the WIPs requirements with one exception: she had not rebuilt positive relationships. There are just too many smart capable women in power. . View Background Report Sponsored Brett D Spencer 's Record in 2020 Name Brett D Spencer Location South Dakota Phone Ad View phone number Payroll Year 2020 Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; New York, NY; San Francisco, CA; Dallas, TX; Search. Skill and professionalism are just as important as the ability to connect on a personal level. Plaintiff considered his offer but decided she would speak to Erickson herself. Dont be too hard on PP, he probably just doesnt know how to pull up the complaint. Kaiser told the texter all negotiations would continue to go through her Minneapolis-based attorney. yeah, this is pretty much how sexual harassment is handled in this state, right grudz? Indeed, Lar. @c`m6x\^=5^'Gb68qk!b@8hg"Xv3nK2 -gW Am 8%d>!EDB8jOpG/4Ps0 Q}Y5z0VF3,=i0U`d ~o^Lq92,r+f^$-Gxpv1yGTY/0 6Lqa{b.K!hD%D*pc?X;^3 F`c!. She seeks, among other things, a jury trial, compensatory relief and damages arising from loss of past and future income, benefits, emotional distress, and other damages, with interest on such amounts, and punitive damages in an amount in excess of $75,000, and lawyer fees. Little wonder that the misanthropes on the public dole who infest the halls at DCI are thuggish, criminally insane, entitled white guys living under their own rules instead of under the law. Plaintiff approached Erickson on or about October 18, 2011 and explained that she was not comfortable with his sexually-oriented comments. Thats a wonderful policy. Kaiser asked Black not to tell anyone about what she was relaying. /PAGE0001 Do Comment on blogs in support of these things? Kaiser appealed the discipline to DCI and eventually to South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, but each of her appeals was denied. A jury awarded Kaiser a settlement for sexual harassment and other damages on Dec. 27, 2017 against her former boss, Bryan Gortmaker. Cops lives suck. 4 0 obj Lastly, Lauras lawsuit is about sexual harassment, discrimination, intimidation and the retaliation that followed after she tried to report it. 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WebWhen Chief Agent Miller retired, Merle Melstad served as chief agent of the DCI for six months in 1955; he was followed in that post by Rol Kebach, who was to serve twenty /ColorSpace /DeviceRGB Required fields are marked *. HB 1221: Free School Meals for Every Student in South Dakota! You do not have to be silent and you should not be in fear of speaking up. Zylstra resigned from DCI effective May 18, 2012. There might be more to the this story than what we see here. In the meantime, let us all take a breath, put politics and rhetoric aside, and support this courageous young lady. Kaiser said at that time she signed the agreement. Both grievances were denied. A South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation agent is up for a national award, but he needs your help. Former South Dakota DCI Agent Represented by Nichols Kaster receives $1.2 Million Jury Verdict after Suffering Retaliation and Discrimination Following a five-day trial in Aberdeen, South Dakota, a six-person jury returned a $1.2 million dollar verdict in favor of former South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation agent, Laura Zylstra-Kaiser. Clark bemoans an America moving forward under a black Democratic president but supports the criminal actions of Denny Daugaard in a crime-ridden, disease-prone chemical toilet like South Dakota: how bipartisan. Meanwhile, Mark Black was in the Brown County DCI interrogation rooms going after the Mette children in a strategic attempt to get them to change their stories. During the chain of events, Jackley's name was replaced on the agreement with, "elected and appointed officials," and then to Craig Ambach, the Director of the Office of Risk Management for the state. There have been other situations where the woman will start conversation and steer in way to get a man to say something he normally wouldnt. Imagine Marty Jackley complying with a federal judge to hand over DCI emails, people. Near the end of February, Kaiser and her lawyer made a verbal agreement with the DCI attorney. /XObject /Contents 5 0 R In March 2012, Kaiser received her worst review of her eight-year career. The Director of the Division of Criminal Investigation, Bryan Gortmaker, first received the compromise settlement agreement and release in full of all claims on Friday, May 18, 2018. WebThis week, we welcomed a new Special Agent to the Division of Criminal Investigation family! WebSTATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA CLASS SPECIFICATION Class Title: DCI Special Agent II Class Code: 688802 Pay Grade: L5 _____ A. WebCorey Dumdei, Special Agent E-mail: corey.dumdei@oig.hhs.gov. As you look through the sections that describe the duties of the Division of Criminal Investigation, you will notice that we are very busy working in the background to keep South Dakota citizens safe. Eventually, she was forced to resign in 2012. 4 0 obj Were anticipating special agent openings in all investigative areas across the state, so learn more about what it means to be a DCI Special Agent and how you can apply by visiting http://ow.ly/WcWn50Ii1XtSee more They are innocent until proven guilty based on a preponderance of the evidence. Kaiser said the DCI attorney met her in Redfield, at his request, to give her the two checks. The next day is when things began to go awry. Supervisor Jason Even took the mens side immediately, accused Zylstra Kaiser of fabricating the sexual harassment allegations against Erickson, and warned her that the issue could lead to her termination. As a reminder, I filed a criminal complaint against DCI Agent Mark Black for perjury and other related felonies on March 13, 2014 and ironically he was fired by the AG on that same day. Women are not perfect. The original settlement said Kaiser was to be paid by April 1 and no later than April 15. Yea. She says shereceived positive performance reviews through mid-2011, when she says her mid-year evaluation praised her for her exceptional work product, ability to work amicably with other DCI agents and members of her task force, relentless work, and above-average case activity.. She has been through hell and back and she deserves all of our support as she goes forward. If not, it really doesnt matter, their lives might as well, be over. Remember, her life will be an open book before they would get through, and those low lifes arent just setting around playing racehorse pitch. /Type /Page WebDowty v. D.C.I. 3 0 obj endobj endobj For the record, I was never contacted or talked to by the AGs office about my criminal complaint and I also heard about the dismissal of my criminal complaint by the AG from news media. The sentence is always a lifetime sentence of shame. >> WebTo apply for a position as a DCI Special Agent, follow these steps: Complete the online application Complete the Personal Data Questionnaire Complete and sign the . Maybe it was around in the old day, but not now. q While none have involved sexual advances (in either direction), the descriptions of DCI personnel here fit with my observations in general of DCI agents. http://www.ag.state.mn.us/ Incremental steps have been taken to give the victim a little better chance. $100,000?" Our dedicated staff have unparalleled commitment to our clients as well, and together with our attorneys, they work tirelessly to advance employee and consumer rights. "It was communicated to my attorneys that there had been a storm and part of a roof came off a building so Bryan Gortmaker is not available," Kaiser said. We have a woman who is making some very serious allegations against a group of men. $20 says this thing never goes to court and is settled for an undisclosed ammount. Keep in mind that I have several wonderful male friends whom I respect and enjoy. Why South Dakotans stand for it remains a mystery. }1-"y, b.|7h" i>1d&1 Then those comments would be taken out of context and used against them. My Family and I have spent years trying to report a case of $800,000 of fraud and theft to DCI in South Dakota. Indeed. The court of public opinion is different than court of law. Kaiser said as a result of her reporting the harassment that led to her forced resignation, she was unable to find another job in law enforcement. Black then met with Erickson, DCI agent Dave Lunzman and Brown County Sherriffs Deputy Damien Bahr at a local park. On information and belief, Plaintiff is the only agent who has ever been transferred against her wishes[Complaint, 2015.09.23]. South Dakota has a criminal for a governor just like voters wanted. In October 2011, Zylstra talked with fellow female agent Jessica Page about Ericksons harassment, and Page took the same position: reporting Erickson would only lead to trouble. When watching the recordings of those interrogation videos, Mark Black can be seen receiving text messages and phone calls (along with occasional breaks while leaving each of the children alone for long periods of time in the cold, scary and isolated rooms) during the entire interrogation process. endobj I wish Laura well with her lawsuit as this has been a long and exhausting road for her and her family. Since 1937, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation has served as the lifeline of support to South Dakotas law enforcement agencies, leading criminal >> Kaiser was on the drug task force in Aberdeen back in 2011, when she said a Brown County Sheriff's Deputy was appointed to the team and began sexually harassing her on a regular basis. 5 0 obj The only thing left is for involuntary sex reassignment. The author Claire Wolfe once said America is at that awkward stage; its too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards. My Family and I have spent years trying to report a case of $800,000 of fraud and theft to DCI in South Dakota. In August 2011, Kaiser was ranked as meets or exceeds in every job category. Salary Company Job Openings. http://www.childadvocatesdefensefund.com/resources/. Kaiser successfully completed eight of the nine objectives of the plan, one of which required her to undergo a psychological evaluation. I mostly agree with you Jenny. Kaiser received positive reviews throughout her career. P.O. Fax: (605) 330-4860 State of South Dakota Board of Pharmacy Prescription Drug Monitoring Program What a filthy, nasty man! Thanks. There are some parts of SD where women are treated with respect and dignity. On or about October 20, 2011, Erickson told Plaintiff that Black had told the entire office about what was happening. I once saw a group of about a dozen DCI agents called from all over the state to testify at a trial as they arrived and gathered in a courthouse lobby. Through it all, Laura has continued to handle this nightmare with strength, grace and determination and is to be commended for bringing attention to these horrific actions. This law suit may lead the way. Although she successfully met eight of nine objectives, Plaintiff was involuntarily demoted from Special Agent III to Special Agent II, which resulted in a reduction in her pay. /Name /PAGE0001 endobj Recently, Special Agent Krierwho is assigned to the DCIs Electronic Crimes Unit and Internet Crimes This lawsuit, wherever it leads, provides another window on the corruption that oozes from every crevice in state government, Benda, EB-5, the GEAR UP matter, and much other business the current regime in Pierre is involved in. In the court of public opinion, the truth doesnt matter, only how it is spun. For a moment,Zylstra thought shed found a supportive ear: Black was supportive offered to speak to Erickson for Plaintiff. Disgusted that Mrs Kaiser had to put up with such criminal behavior by a co-worker and then her supervisors. stream They got both in front of me., Erickson: Stick with me Ill take you to the promised land.. WebThe State of South Dakota offers employer paid health insurance plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other Posted Posted 30+ This is about corruption in the State of South Dakota and it is because of strong and determined individuals such as Laura Kaiser that this type of unacceptable behavior will finally be exposed for what it is. WebThe DCIs work isnt always about enforcement: its about education, too! As a result of this experience with DCI administration, Plaintiff feared future reports would adversely affect her career [Complaint, 2015.09.23]. When she spoke about her guns, commenting to her that sounds hot; Petting her hair and, on one occasion, putting his arm around her and swaying; When Plaintiff asked for his keys, stating they were in his pocket and she should get them herself; After Plaintiff said her husband would be out of town that weekend, asking her: Should I come over Saturday around 6? and, Having her watch a lewd music video set in a police department [. The paperwork was signed and finalized by the Governors Office of Risk Management on Monday, May 21, 2018. The cold, hard, fact remains, males perpetrate more than 90% of the sexual crimes. To all the men out there that need advice on how to treat women in the workplace, Ill give you a clue. Following trial, Kaiser commented: "I would like to thank the jury for their time and for giving me justice. This is one of those rare situations where the accused should be guilty until they prove themselves innocent. LOCATION. WebClass Title: DCI Special Agent III Class Code: 688804 Pay Grade: L6 _____ A. DCI Special Agent I or II in South Dakota State Government; Rapid City, SD. My Mother first reported these crimes to agent Joshua Bobzein who was so horrible that I actually had to file a criminal complaint against Bobzein. I also tried to initiate the Commencement of Proceedings for the Removal of Law Enforcement Officer upon written complaint of a citizen of the State (SDCL 3-17-6) with Service and Notice to SD Attorney General of the Waiver of Sovereign Immunity (SDCL 21-32-18) of the Defendant, but a corrupt Judge in Beadle County illegally prevented the Clerk of Courts from filing it. Purpose: Conducts investigations Over the past couple of years, Laura and I have compared our particular time lines along with documented facts and discovery. WebDCI Special Agent I or II State of South Dakota South Dakota, United States 3 weeks ago Be among the first 25 applicants See who State of South Dakota has hired for this role This is so wrong and. Makes one wonder if DCI does anything right. The Court must still decide front pay, which is wage loss post-trial, and attorneys fees. It boggles my mind that adult males would behave that way. 6 0 obj VY9H~d&D#iu.QUCoHB(L}~JOI:xw9x0Gh=,~]\c"r-)o!Jx_%1+^Iy$UYXc,WE Her DCI supervisors accused her of failing at numerous job categories which just months earlier were graded as meets or exceeds expectations. Did you know the U of MN has a very active police force of their own to try and fight back all the horrible crimes that are occurring on that campus? %PDF-1.5 ", Lucas Kaster, one of Kaisers attorneys, stated: We are very happy for Laura. %PDF-1.7 Kaiser said she was reluctant about telling her superiors and eventually was forced out of her post as retaliation for reporting it. If all of this is true, then they deserve everything they have coming to them. I know thats not the law, but frankly, these kinds of situations make me so angry . MC has taken the typical male republican position here, doubt the womans credibility and worry about future of the men involved. Ms. Geelsdottir, I support all those things. DCI Special Agent I or II. WebBrett D Spencer worked as a Dci Special Agent III for the State of South Dakota and in 2020 had a reported pay of $35.02 and a pay frequency of hourly according to public records. Women and children cant do it. The jury awarded Kaiser $311,812.00 in lost wages, $498,929.00 in lost retirement benefits, and $400,000.00 in emotional distress damages. Lets hope she gets a judge that isnt in the tank for the administration. 7 0 obj Since 2005, SA Corey has been with the South Dakota Office of Attorney General in the >> Your email address will not be published. I acknowledge MCs point that there is surely more to the story. I truly doubt it many other individuals would have endured what she has and kept on fighting to get to this point. I asked my friends if what they thought about the other table. 3 0 obj MC, the deck continues to be stacked in favor of the rapist/molester/harasser. All you need to know about him is that he is an habitual liar. The latest Tweets from South Dakota DCI (@SouthDakotaDCI). Box 127 Lake Andes, SD 57356 Telephone: 605-487-7645 Attorney for Plaintiff and Appellant ______________________ Robert B. Anderson May, Adam, Gerdes & Thompson P.O. Im not sympathetic to the cry of males being picked on.. Males write the laws in every state and DC. Thats too bad for SD and a real reason people leave. Black, however, told other members of DCI and the Brown County Sherriffs Office about Ericksons harassment. #Bh@*Jpi\uRML)p\;SuS(dO}Ziq.!n1+*T82 ,sV2 #/R9iN6]I#[v`L?K[oWC^3Ch+z;nc. But MC, I am inclined to think that the more to the story may well follow the lines that Shirley and David lay out for us. And I have met with Jessica Page, who despite appearing to sincerely want to help the crime victim, was completely incompetent. /Type /XObject Demented Criminal Infantile for their acronym. TFeJxXop(I#Z,k^Uv "A@'(''C6eRE .Qn4vL*2{i}SaeaXCYzoKmw7'}jgaL@gWan7T4('9|K,"-w^l. '!kcE!>{=C9Cv G4]mY01I&Em@6cR1d>!B u << /MediaBox [ 0 0 612 792] It was a wonderful atmosphere. Former DCI agent Laura Zylstra Kaiser says the state of South Dakota delayed paying her $1.5 million settlement, following a lawsuit over workplace sexual harassment. JOB DETAILS. <> There will be no trial and South Dakota will settle for an undisclosed amount of cash. Brady Folkens ashes should be divided up and ground into the carpets at the governors mansion and at Martys house. Then in April 2012, DCI removed Kaisers state vehicle, told her she could no longer travel from Aberdeen to Pierre on state time, removed her daily stipend, and told her that she could no longer sleep at the police academy barracks in Pierre, where she slept during the week because her family could not afford a second home. Kaiser told Erickson to stop, but his comments persisted. I hope Zylstra Kaiser rips them to shreds. /Length 47 So, the bad guys got away; not because they were clever criminal masterminds, but because of the corruption and incompetence of SD DCI Law Enforcement. They hadnt noticed because it was a routine event. Special Agents et al, No. x[ms6|nb 2I MT?xn^PX`W,W~sW=yUWYv]sl~n/.7gW\=FI,R'Q0g1?YyY0!UG%STK,g|QMiDY@1|0zycW~[+3_YxN1piT67$bZZ ? 2 0 obj Q I have had numerous interactions with various DCI agents over the past 40 years. Agent Kaisers accusations are credible to me. 8 days ago. I hope my experience can give strength to other victims of sexual harassment. 'GE%ueEy Z"*L>O ;FVIL$E ^tjx%|{/&,8px%q|A`;%)e9SO8w% Finished: John D. MacDonald's 'The Brass Cupcake'. Zylstra-Kaiser is doing the right thing by exposing them all. :"x?W YfP(iv7xE' w2^Pt6kJIy\jhQ"1Bjx It will be difficult to defend Black and anyone who tries to use his words and actions as credible evidence. We would have been better off reporting these crimes to the Girl Scouts. Kaiser was transferred to Pierre, demoted from Special Agent III to Special Agent II and moved to a less desirable position. Jackley's office issued this statement about the delay of Kaiser's settlement on Tuesday: "The State of South Dakota confirms today that the State of South Dakota has finalized the Laura Zylstra Kaiser lawsuit. Zylstra Kaiser filed grievances over the demotion and transferwith Gortmaker and Attorney General Marty Jackley. In the 80 year history of DCI, Kaiser said she was just one of two women who were promoted to Special Agent III, the highest level in a non-supervisory role. Hopefully Lauras story, and the jurys verdict, will play a small part in continuing the message that sexual harassment and retaliation cannot be condoned or allowed.. If she did something wrong, like breaking the law to catch someone breaking the law, that would be enough. I have not only watched and observed her efforts these past 3 years but supported her every step of the way as well. Wingnuts are spinning a tangled web and one day they will receive their just rewards. % WebSOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY prevention protection enforcement March 9, 2022 The Honorable Spencer Gosch Speaker of the House 500 E. Capitol Avenue Pierre, SD 57501 RE: HR 7001 Speaker Gosch: I understand that the House Select Committee on Investigation is close to concluding its work in examining the She lost her dream job and her career because she stood up for what is right. <>>> Zylstra Kaiser now charges Gortmaker withreprisal discrimination and sex discrimination under the federal Civil Rights Act and the South Dakota Human RelationsAct. POSTED. Ms Zylstra Kaiser encountered the same players involved in the events that led up to the malicious prosecution of Taliferro-Schwab, including Kim Dorsett. )/ The jury found that Kaiser suffered retaliation and gender discrimination after she complained of sexual harassment by one of her colleagues in October 2011. I am also well aware that the large majority of males are not sexual criminals. The language of the settlement agreement states the following: The payment will be made by delivering the checks to Kaisers attorneys so that the checks are in their hands no sooner than May 21, 2018, but in no event later than June 8, 2018. Its extremely rare that I hear women made fun of or harassed here.
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