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NEW BEDFORD — A jury ordered the city to pay a former female police officer $127,000 in damages and lost pay, determining Thursday that she experienced retaliation when she complained about alleged gender discrimination.
Macaila Saunders sued the city in 2021, after leaving the New Bedford Police Department and seeking employment elsewhere.
Saunders filed claims of gender discrimination and retaliation. However, the count of gender discrimination, which carries a higher standard of proof, was dismissed upon agreement by both parties. The jury’s verdict affirms only her claim of retaliation against now Assistant Deputy Chief Scott Carola and the City of New Bedford.
“I’m just really thankful the process worked. Nobody likes having to make complaints like this, especially in my field,” Saunders told The Light on Thursday. “I’m thankful to the jury, and I just can’t wait to come back and be a New Bedford police officer again.”
Saunders’ attorney, Christopher Trundy, said they will seek to have her reinstated in the city’s police department through a provision in anti-discrimination law. She has been working as a school resource officer for the Swansea Police Department.
In her complaint, Saunders alleged that in 2018 and 2019, Carola, who was her new supervisor, created a hostile work environment based on gender and targeted her. She also alleged Carola was punishing her in part because she did not give him “attention” when they were working out at the same gym outside of work.
The city did not answer questions about Saunders’ desire to return to the department, and whether it plans to appeal the jury’s verdict.
“The City is assessing its legal options following Thursday’s decision but has no further comment at this time,” said City Solicitor Eric Jaikes in an email Thursday afternoon.
Carola responded to a request for comment by deferring to the city’s statement. Police leadership denied the allegations when the suit was brought years ago.
Saunders also alleged former Chief Joseph Cordeiro and Adelino Sousa, who has since retired as deputy chief, failed to address Carola’s alleged actions. However, they were dropped from the case, leaving the city and Carola as the sole defendants that the jury ruled against.
Saunders, 42, joined the city’s police department in 2004 and was promoted to detective, where she worked crime scenes. She said she has skills and certifications that she is not able to practice in her position as a school resource officer, and that she would like to use them again in New Bedford.
Trundy, her attorney, said the city failed to protect her and keep a “first-rate homicide detective” on the force at a “great expense” to the taxpayer.
A 2023 report by a consulting firm, Jensen Hughes, found that the department’s existing policy and training on harassment was lacking.
“There is a perception by some female officers that they are not treated fairly nor respected by other officers,” the report states. “These female officers feel harassed in some circumstances and powerless to do anything about it.”
The Light in 2023 reported that women who worked with NBPD said they left their positions on specialized units or avoided shifts after feeling uncomfortable with behavior by a male sergeant, who later received a written reprimand and was instructed to undergo the already required online training.
That year, only about 6.5% of the department’s officers were women. A department spokesperson did not immediately provide the figure as of 2025.
Last month, Tanya Meisenholder, a police researcher and former commissioner for equity and inclusion at the New York Police Department, interviewed the city’s female officers. She was brought in in response to the findings of the Jensen Hughes review. She is affiliated with New York University, and is overseeing an initiative to improve the representation, experiences and well-being of women in law enforcement.
A Bristol County Superior Court judge still has to issue a final ruling on the Saunders case. Trundy confirmed the judge has the authority to reduce the amount of damages awarded by the jury.
The jury designated $50,000 for emotional distress, and $77,000 to cover wages Saunders would have earned had she continued to work in New Bedford, Trundy said.
“Win or lose, I know me following this through was going to help somebody in my position, so they don’t have to go through what I did,” Saunders said. “I did this not just for myself, but for the women behind me who are going to be starting their careers. They should be able to go into work every day and just have to worry about being a good police officer.”
Email Anastasia E. Lennon at alennon@newbedfordlight.org.
Congratulations!!!! Finally. Good job sticking with this. Best of luck
Glad for your verdict, Women are a great asset to any job,
Wow! who knew the police department isnt the perfect entity. They police themselfs ,the perfect answer for any wrong doing.
I feel No matter who you are or what race you are as long as you do your job right . Yes Congrats to the women who are Stepping up to their Rights
I have had the pleasure of knowing Scott Carola for almost 30 years. He is nothing but a gentleman and professional. I have an extremely hard time believing that he would be anything but that.