St. Louis officers settle claims of harassment by priest

ST. LOUIS -- Two St. Louis police officers have settled lawsuits claiming they were sexually harassed by a Catholic priest who was serving on the Police Board, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Details of the settlements were confidential, the newspaper reported Saturday.

Officers Samuel Irons and William Clinton filed suit in May in U.S. District Court against the Rev. Maurice Nutt, claiming he used his position on the board to be near them. Irons said Nutt tried to hug and kiss him, and both officers complained of repeated phone calls and messages.

Nutt resigned from the board in December 2001, two days after the officers filed complaints that led to an internal investigation. He later left his position at St. Alphonsus "Rock" Catholic Church in St. Louis and moved to the Chicago area. Nutt has denied any wrongdoing.

The lawsuits sought monetary damages from the Police Board and Archbishop Justin Rigali, who at the time was head of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. He has since become a cardinal in Philadelphia.

The officers said that Rigali provided negligent supervision of Nutt. The archdiocese office was closed Friday night and no one was available for comment.

The settlement was reached after mediation efforts this month, the Post-Dispatch reported. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Rodney Sippel issued an order giving the parties 30 days to file papers formally resolving the case.

Frank Kaveney, Nutt's attorney, wouldn't say if any money was paid.

Irons said in his lawsuit that in response to a message left for him by Nutt in November 2001, he went to the St. Alphonsus rectory, where Nutt led him to his study and locked the door. Nutt allegedly said he liked "manly men," and moments later said, "Come here, boy," then tried to kiss the officer.

Irons said in the lawsuit that he evaded the kiss.

Clinton alleged in his lawsuit that later that month, Nutt approached him as he got into his patrol car, hugged the officer and said, "You're close to me; I'm going to keep you close to me."

Clinton felt "Nutt's cheek swipe his own as though preparing to give plaintiff a kiss," the lawsuit said. The officer said he pulled away from Nutt, got into the patrol car and left.