A former Montgomery police officer claims she was discriminated against for not having an affair with Chief Darryl Albert, according to an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filing.

Rene Helton, represented by attorney Mickey McDermott, filed an EEOC complaint against Albert in 2023 claiming discrimination based on gender.

Chip Hill, chief of staff for Mayor Steven Reed, released this statement to AL.com: “While we cannot comment on pending litigation, it is very important that no one jumps to any conclusion until all of the facts are made known.”

According to the EEOC complaint, Helton beginning in September 2022 through March 2023 confided in Albert about problems she was having.

Those problems included challenges she faced from conflicting guidance in using her patrol car to pick up her children from school and hostility she was experiencing from certain departmental supervisors.

“Upon concluding that Helton would not engage him in a physical/romantic relationship, Albert unilaterally and for apparent punitive reasons, placed Helton under a supervisor that was hostile to her and from whom Albert promised to protect Helton,’’ the complaint states.

The complaint states that department began termination proceedings against Helton in June 2023 after she was the subject of a disciplinary investigation triggered by an anonymous complaint.

The compliant alleged Helton used her patrol car to pick up her children from school. The termination proceedings also claimed insubordination.

“Chief Albert had previously expressed support for Helton in her dealings, but once he understood that Helton would not consent to a sexual relationship with the married Albert, Chief Albert informed Helton as much and foreshadowed the retaliatory acts that are the subject of this charge of discrimination,’’ the complaint states.

The complaint included screenshots of reported text messages between Albert and Helton that were flirtatious and sexual in nature.