Marshfield Woman Files Federal Lawsuit Against Former Marshfield Police Chief

Thursday, December 23rd, 2021 -- 2:01 PM

(Jamie Rokus, Marshfield News Herald) A Marshfield woman has filed a federal lawsuit accusing former Police Chief Richard Gramza of repeated sexual harassment, sexual assault and stalking her over a period of more than eight years.

The woman, who the Marshfield News-Herald is not identifying because she is an alleged victim of sexual assault, is seeking monetary damages from Gramza, former Marshfield Police Chief Gary Jepsen and the city of Marshfield.

She claims she experienced a pattern of alcohol abuse, depression and multiple suicide attempts and hospitalizations as a result of Gramza’s actions, according to the lawsuit filed Friday by her attorneys, Jeff Scott Olson and Emma Ferguson of the Jeff Scott Olson Law Firm, S.C., of Madison.

Gramza resigned as Marshfield police chief in March, after he was charged in November 2020 with three felony counts of misconduct in office and misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree sexual assault and disorderly conduct.

The criminal charges involve a different woman from the person who filed the lawsuit. The misconduct in office charges have since been dismissed, but Gramza's criminal case on the other charges is ongoing.

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