Warren Glover was the director of NBA security since being promoted in 2004, but his stint with the league office ended this past July when he was informed “that he was being terminated as a result of his poor performance.” The veteran security official is now suing the league for lost wages and damages while alleging that he was fired because he stood up for women that were being sexually abused in the NBA’s league office.
Ex-NBA Security Official Claims Sexual Abuse In League Office Was Ignored
An ex-NBA security official is claiming that he was fired after reporting numerous sexual assault and abuse cases that were ignored by his higher-ups. Warren Glover is suing for lost wages and damages related to multiple allegations involving senior officials.
Glover has accused senior NBA security officials of creating a “hostile work environment” in which he was “demeaned,” “treated differently from other employees” and denied promotions because of his willingness to speak out, according to a report from the New York Times’ Howard Beck that broke on Thursday morning. It seems that the allegations stem from issues between Glover and Bernard Tolbert, the league’s former senior vice president for security.
Tolbert left the N.B.A. in October 2010 - a year after settling a sexual harassment suit filed against him by Annette Smith, an administrative assistant to Glover. It was Glover’s sworn testimony in the Smith case that, according to Glover, helped trigger the chain of events leading to his diminished standing and his eventual dismissal.
Tolbert’s lawsuit alleges that “he at least once expressed his alarm” regarding his allegations of sexual abuse in the league office, but nothing was ever done about it.
When Glover raised those concerns, Tolbert allegedly responded: “If she doesn’t like it, she can quit. One monkey don’t stop no show.”
Glover alleges that he was fired for his actions on the behalf of women in the league office and not because of any sort of poor job performance. The New York Times’ report indicates that it seems Glover had been in good standing with the league prior to his termination, though his evaluations did begin to go downhill beginning in 2007 after reporting a separate sexual abuse case.
Another harassment complaint involving Daniels surfaced in 2007. An employee, Laurie McMurray, reported that Daniels had displayed “pornographic material” on his computer and had made “offensive and intimidating” remarks. She brought the concerns to Robinson, who declined to act or take the matter to Tolbert, according to the lawsuit.
McMurray’s complaints eventually came to the attention of Glover, who reported them to Robinson - who said he did not want to get involved, according to the suit - and then to Tolbert. According to the lawsuit, Tolbert later spoke to Glover and “delivered a thinly veiled threat” that anyone who informed McMurray about Allsop’s previous allegations against Daniels “would be fired.”
Whether the allegations prove to be true or not, this doesn’t paint the league office in a good light as the NBA is set to open its regular season schedule in just 10 days following months of bad PR due to the never-ending lockout.
See More:
