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Sgt. Carl Quarterman Files Lawsuit Against School District

An artistic representation of the tensions between law enforcement and school administration amidst a lawsuit.

News Summary

Sgt. Carl Quarterman of the Board of Education Police Department has filed a lawsuit against the Savannah-Chatham School District, claiming retaliation after he reported sexual abuse involving a student. Following his report in August 2023, Quarterman alleges he faced demotion, pay reduction, and unfavorable work shifts. The lawsuit accuses the school district of failing to follow its own policies regarding the removal of staff accused of misconduct. The case raises concerns about the challenges faced by whistleblowers in public school environments as the district vows to review its internal controls.

Savannah, Georgia – Sgt. Carl Quarterman, an officer with the Board of Education Police Department (BOEPD), has filed a lawsuit against the Savannah-Chatham School District, alleging retaliation following his reporting of sexual abuse against a student. The lawsuit stems from incidents that reportedly occurred over 20 years ago involving a police lieutenant who had previously been in a relationship with the student.

Quarterman claims he followed state law and district policy to report the abuse in August 2023, which mandates that suspected child abuse must be reported immediately. However, after making the report, he alleges facing significant retaliation, including being demoted, having his pay reduced from $44 to $42 an hour, and being placed on night shifts, which has complicated his family obligations. Other officers who reportedly supported Quarterman’s claims have also faced similar repercussions, including disciplinary actions and job losses.

The lawsuit alleges that the school district failed to adhere to its own policies that require the immediate removal of any staff accused of misconduct from any contact with students during investigations. In response to the allegations, legal counsel for the district has issued a denial concerning the claims made in the lawsuit.

Superintendent Denise Watts addressed the situation during a press conference, highlighting her dedication to the fair treatment of district employees and the importance of properly handling complaints. While acknowledging the close relationship between campus police operations and human resources—which are both implicated in the lawsuit—she emphasized that the district takes such matters seriously.

In light of the legal action, the district has committed to reviewing its internal controls and procedures through third-party evaluations. However, as of now, no specific third-party firm has been contracted to conduct this review, as the district is in the process of determining the appropriate scope of the assessment.

During the press conference, Chief Terry Enoch was present but refrained from answering questions related to the lawsuit. He did, however, share details about the training provided to School Resource Officers (SROs).

The lawsuit highlights broader concerns regarding the challenges that whistleblowers often encounter in public school environments, which are frequently described as closed and resistant to outside scrutiny. Georgia law mandates that professionals report any suspected instances of child abuse, and those who fail to do so may face criminal charges.

According to an internal investigation regarding the reported abuse, the statute of limitations for the alleged misconduct had already expired, which could limit potential legal recourse for any victims involved. The lieutenant accused of the misconduct resigned shortly after the allegations were made public and is reported to have offered money to silence the complaint against him.

The legal proceedings related to this case are ongoing in Chatham County Superior Court, with both the district’s legal team and Quarterman’s counsel preparing for the next steps. The Savannah-Chatham County School District has a history of engaging third-party consultants to improve oversight and refine operational practices, suggesting that this current lawsuit may prompt a thorough examination of past procedures and standards.