Hogsett Administrator Fired Over Sexual Harassment Investigations
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Hogsett Administrator Fired Over Sexual Harassment Investigations

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Hogsett Administrator Fired Over Sexual Harassment Investigations

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Three women who accused former Indianapolis Deputy Mayor Joe Hogsett of sexual harassment in July forced a reckoning at the City-County Building.

The #MeToo movement in Indianapolis has led to an increase in reports of harassment and unwanted sexual advances among current and former city employees, prompting internal investigations and one firing.

The city fired a Department of Metropolitan Development employee Wednesday after an investigation found “overwhelming evidence” of sexual harassment. The city’s human resources department is also conducting six other investigations into current and former employees, officials confirmed to IndyStar.

The launch of the sexual harassment crackdown comes after Lauren Roberts, Caroline Ellert and another former Thomas Cook subordinate publicly accused IndyStar of abuse and harassment by Cook while serving as one of the mayor’s closest advisers for years.

The growing internal investigations have scattered city offices and complicated Hogsett’s daily activities. The Democratic mayor has limited his public appearances as he faces an investigation by the Democratic-controlled City-County Council and questions about sexual harassment when he appears at events.

In an administration that largely avoided leaks and scandals during Hogsett’s first two terms, employees are starting to open up. Women in particular are demanding more accountability for alleged misconduct in the administration.

IndyStar spoke with more than 25 current and former Hogsett administration employees for this story, many of whom said Cook’s behavior was not isolated but rather indicative of a toxic culture in which sexual harassment was common, the lines between superiors and subordinates were blurred, and they often went out for drinks together after work.

Administrator fired after HR investigation

The city fired Matt Pleasant, an administrator in the Department of Metropolitan Development, on Wednesday after an investigation found “inappropriate sexual misconduct,” according to an internal HR document provided to IndyStar by the Office of Corporation Counsel. The investigation began in late July.

According to HR, Pleasant’s behavior violated the city’s workplace harassment policy and the consequence was “immediate termination.” Pleasant, who had worked for the city since 2019, did not respond to IndyStar’s request for comment Wednesday evening.

Another HR investigation is focused on Rusty Carr, according to several city employees. Carr, a former director of the Department of Metropolitan Development, was a “true ally,” Hogsett said when he left late last year to head the Parks Alliance of Indianapolis.

But Carr’s reputation during his nine years with the city was different among women who say he harassed them.

Carr’s behavior included sending sexually explicit photos and unwanted romantic advances to co-workers, three current and former city employees told IndyStar. Carr told IndyStar he had two relationships with city employees and sent suggestive messages to women outside his marriage, but described his behavior as consensual.

City supervisors did not report concerns to the human resources department

At least two city supervisors were told by multiple sources that Carr had made women feel uncomfortable for years, but no one officially reported the matter to human resources until Cook’s alleged conduct was revealed.

“Mr. Carr’s record does not reflect any investigation or discipline for sexual harassment or other inappropriate conduct during his employment with the city of Indianapolis,” Human Resources Director Twana Ellis told IndyStar in August.

The mayor learned of Carr’s behavior after the IndyStar published a story about Thomas Cook, city staff said.

When asked about this, Hogsett’s office provided the following statement: “On July 31, after a candid conversation with members of the Administration’s leadership team, Mayor Hogsett was approached by an individual who wanted to file a complaint of inappropriate conduct by a former City employee who resigned in 2023. The Mayor then arranged for the complaint to be immediately filed with the City of Indianapolis and Marion County Human Resources Office. Human Resources proceeded in a confidential manner to protect all parties involved.”

One former city employee said Carr sent her unsolicited sexual photos. The woman said Carr flirted with her around that time but later revealed he was married. The woman said she made it clear she wanted him to stop the advances.

“It was just disgusting,” the woman said.

Several months later, the woman said, Carr sent her another inappropriate image. She did not respond.

IndyStar generally does not release the names of people who say they have experienced sexual harassment, and those who have spoken out about alleged harassment of others requested anonymity out of fear of professional reprisal or political retaliation.

Rusty Carr outside Parks Alliance

Another city employee was in her early 20s when Carr first caught her attention. She said she felt “watched” and uncomfortable when he sent her overly personal and familiar text messages or contacted her on social media in the middle of the night.

She added that in 2021, she mentioned the incidents to her mentor and work colleague in the city.

“She said, ‘You can’t be alone with him after everything you’ve done,’” the young woman said. “At the time, I didn’t feel like it was so outrageous that I needed to take action. There are a lot of very brave people who have been through worse.”

The woman’s boss was then informed of the situation. The manager encouraged the woman to go to HR and took over her responsibilities and communications, which likely involved Carr.

“I’m grateful for that,” the woman said. “Not every young woman has been so lucky.”

Carr admitted in an interview with IndyStar that he had “consensual physical relations” with two city employees and sent messages and photos to other women.

“I have only just learned of these allegations, years later, and it was never my intention to cause anyone emotional distress, pain or hardship,” Carr told IndyStar in a written statement. “I am deeply sorry to all those I have hurt and let down by my actions.”

Carr recently resigned from his employment with Parks Alliance of Indianapolis. Parks Alliance Board President Jenn Schimmelpfennig said the organization learned of the allegations in mid-August and immediately accepted Carr’s resignation.

“Really Toxic” Work Environment

Some women who worked for Hogsett’s administration said it was disturbing that some men had risen through the ranks of city government without incident despite abusing women.

“It seems like Thomas (Cook) being able to get away with his bad behavior is an example to every other man who served in the Hogsett administration to just do whatever he wants,” said a former employee who received the messages from Carr. “The lack of consistency and accountability also contributed to a really toxic work environment for women and feeling so incredibly silenced.”

IndyStar published an investigation in July into Cook’s alleged sexual harassment and inappropriate relationships with employees under him. Hogsett’s administration says it forced Cook to resign in 2020 for repeatedly violating city policy by engaging in inappropriate relationships, but Hogsett brought him back last year to run his reelection campaign. Cook admitted to the consensual relationships in a statement to the Star.

At an August City and County Council meeting, after the Mirror Indy published the results of its own investigation, Hogsett apologized to Roberts, Ellert and a third accuser, who was interviewed on condition of anonymity.

The mayor has since signed an executive order requiring all city and county employees to attend sexual harassment training. The council is considering additional measures, including creating a commission of inquiry into how the administration handled the reports involving Cook.

“We are in the process of creating a safer, better workplace culture where our employees know how to identify and report misconduct and feel safe that their identity and information will remain confidential,” Hogsett said in a statement to the IndyStar. “It is extremely important to me that every person who serves our community at City-County Enterprises understands that they can report misconduct of any kind without fear of retaliation, and all investigations will be conducted confidentially.”

Meanwhile, women who still work in the city are grappling with recent revelations.

“There are a lot of women in the building right now who are just torn apart by this,” said one longtime city employee. “We just have to show up and do our jobs and try our best to find our place in this.”

Investigative journalist Kristine Phillips contributed to this report.

Contact Hayleigh Colombo at [email protected] or follow her on X: @hayleighcolombo.

ConContact James Briggs at 317-444-4732 or [email protected]. Follow him on X and threads on @JamesEBriggs.

Website https://www.oneroofptbo.ca

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