ALLENTOWN, Pa. — An Allentown employee who has filed numerous complaints against city officials found a noose at her desk Friday morning, according to a city councilwoman.
LaTarsha Brown found the noose on her computer as she reported for work in the Department of Economic and Community Development at City Hall, Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach told LehighValleyNews.com.
“This is a hate crime."Allentown City Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach
“This is a hate crime,” Gerlach said.
Brown, who is Black, has lodged complaints about racism and workplace discrimination with the city’s Human Resources Department and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Gerlach said.
Brown on Thursday requested mediation to resolve her complaints against another employee in her department, the councilwoman said.
Brown also serves as an elected Allentown School Board member.
Councilwoman calls for quick investigation
Allentown police said they were called about 7:30 a.m. Friday for "a small item resembling a noose" discovered on a worker's desk.
"This matter is being taken seriously and is under active investigation by the Allentown Police Department," police said in a news release.
“There’s cameras all over City Hall. It should be a quick investigation.”Allentown City Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach
Gerlach said there were “a bunch of police cars at City Hall” on Friday morning, and crime-scene tape was placed over Brown’s office door.
She urged police to work quickly to identify who left the noose on Brown’s desk.
“There’s cameras all over City Hall,” Gerlach said, noting access to the DCED office is secured. “It should be a quick investigation.”
Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk, in an emailed statement, said he cannot comment on the incident reported Friday.
“I’m deeply committed to ensuring that every employee of the City of Allentown enjoys a respectful, supportive, inclusive, and caring workplace."Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk
But Tuerk said he is “deeply committed to ensuring that every employee of the City of Allentown enjoys a respectful, supportive, inclusive, and caring workplace.”
Tuerk promised a thorough investigation, calling it “a commitment of my administration, a reflection of my personal values, and a reflection of Allentown’s dedication to safety.”
“I’m deeply committed to ensuring that every employee of the City of Allentown enjoys a respectful, supportive, inclusive, and caring workplace,” he said.
Police said anyone with information should call the department at 610-437-7721.
Brown did not respond to a phone call seeking comment Friday afternoon.
Investigation of workplace complaints on hold
Friday’s reported incident comes amid questions about the future of a long-running but paused investigation into claims of workplace discrimination and racism first publicized in July 2023.
A five-page letter from the NAACP’s Allentown branch highlighted a “concerning number of complaints from Black and Brown employees” who work in City Hall.
It included allegations that some white Allentown police officers threatened to shoot their Black colleagues, who are targeted by racial slurs and “continuously threatened.”
Employees of color said they were “verbally attacked” by white supervisors, and the letter also alleged “white managers rule out Black and Brown employees during promotions.”
The NAACP letter implored Tuerk to “take a stand against racism in your workplace.”
Allentown City Council hired former FBI agent Scott Curtis in June to probe those claims. The body sued Tuerk and Finance Director Bina Patel in September, accusing them of trying to block Curtis’ investigation.
Lawyers for both sides were due to battle in court in December, but council paused its litigation against administration officials the night before the first scheduled hearing.
Council Vice President Santo Napoli said council’s solicitor would work with Tuerk’s office to hire another company to conduct an expedited investigation into claims of racism and workplace discrimination.
At the same Dec. 4 meeting, several residents spoke out after Deputy City Clerk Tawanna Whitehead accused Councilwoman Candida Affa of creating a “racially hostile environment” in a federal lawsuit.
Whitehead, who is Black, said officials from several administrations “did shamefully little” to protect her after she reported racial harassment by Affa.
The lawsuit includes other allegations that date to 2015.
