Boobs, Bugs, and Badges: Allegations Rock Superior, Wisconsin PD

Lede You Didn’t See Coming

In a federal lawsuit filed in March 2025, a Superior, Wisconsin police officer alleges she was forced to express breast milk in a locker room shower stall—and later discovered a GPS tracker was placed on her squad car without a warrant.

The officer, Mikayla Marie LeRette, filed a civil rights and labor lawsuit against the City of Superior and former police captain Thomas Champaigne. The complaint reads like a rejected Law & Order script: a blend of workplace rights, surveillance concerns, and an alleged indifference to both.

This is not a joke. But it would be a darkly funny one if it were.

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“Got Milk?” Allegedly Not Much Help for That

Lactation Rights Allegedly Ignored

After returning from maternity leave in November 2022, Officer LeRette claims she asked her supervisor for a private space to express breast milk—something required by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Instead, according to the complaint, she was told to make do with a women’s locker room shower stall, separated by only a curtain.

The space, according to her lawsuit, lacked basic privacy. She alleges that male custodial staff and fellow officers walked in, and that her supervisor allegedly interrupted her on multiple occasions, once even turning off the lights in apparent frustration while she was pumping.

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From Breast Milk to Bugged Vehicles

GPS Allegation: Who Watches the Watchers?

The lawsuit takes an even more alarming turn. In early 2024, Officer LeRette alleges that her assigned police vehicle was fitted with an electronic tracking device—without a warrant and without her knowledge.

The complaint identifies then-Captain Thomas Champaigne as the individual who allegedly installed the GPS tracker. When her car went in for repairs, the device was reportedly moved to her temporary replacement vehicle. Again, allegedly without consent or a court order.

Champaigne, who retired shortly after the tracker was reportedly removed, is named as a defendant in the lawsuit. According to the complaint, an internal probe suggested the surveillance may have continued even after his retirement.

LeRette claims she never consented to the surveillance.

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The Legal Claims: Federal and Constitutional Violations Alleged

Alleged Lactation Law Violations

Under 29 U.S. Code § 218d, employers are legally required to provide nursing mothers with a private, non-bathroom space to express milk. According to the complaint, Superior PD failed to do so—and failed dramatically.

Alleged Fourth Amendment Violation

The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches—including, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in U.S. v. Jones (2012), placing GPS tracking devices on vehicles without a warrant.

LeRette alleges that’s exactly what happened.

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So… Why the Lawsuit?

LeRette is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, claiming that she suffered harm from both the alleged surveillance and the lack of lawful workplace accommodations.

Her lawyers argue that the City of Superior is liable for Champaigne’s alleged actions because he was operating within the scope of his duties when the events occurred.

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“So Who’s Responsible?”

At this stage, no court has ruled on the claims. The lawsuit does not allege that the City of Superior has a policy or custom of violating employee rights, but it does hold the city accountable for its employee’s alleged conduct under Wisconsin law.

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Final Thought

These allegations raise serious questions about how workplace rights are respected—and how surveillance tools are deployed—within small-town police departments.

If true, they reveal a stunning disregard for both the Constitution and the basic dignity of public employees. And if false, they still underscore the need for clarity, transparency, and clear oversight mechanisms in every department that wields power over the people it employs.

Either way, this lawsuit isn’t just about one officer. It’s about whether public employees can expect privacy, dignity, and lawful treatment from the very governments they serve.

READ THE LAWSUIT