Police Chief Cathy Lanier is under fire for allegedly being harsher on male officers than female officers, the Washington Times reports.

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Lainer is accused of demoting 10 men while not demoting eight women in similar situations. The top cop is able to demote commanders to a lower rank "without cause or hearing."

Victor Brito, one complainant of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint, was demoted after he disagreed with a decision not to discipline an officer accused of adultery. Brito was a 22-year veteran with a clean record and led the disciplinary branch of the Metropolitan Police Department prior to his demotion.

Lanier demoted Brito after a lieutenant under his command released the case file. One of the witnesses in the investigation is a friend of Lanier, and was a campaign consultant to Mayor Vincent Gray.

Brito reported to the EEOC that she demoted him to "put her own people in place, ‘people she could trust.'" 

While Brito was demoted, a number of women escaped punishment, including one who was transferred - but not otherwise disciplined - "amid swirling allegations of misconduct." In 2008, a female inspector was placed on sick leave for stress; a male inspector was demoted while on a similar stress-related sick leave. 

[via Washington Times]