Christine Gomez, a Port Washington youth who sued a former Port Washington police officer and the PWPD in federal court, has settled her claim in the amount of thirty thousand dollars. Ms. Gomez sued for assault, battery and a violation of her civil rights, claiming that the former policeman, Chester Nakelski, slapped her in the face outside of Schreiber High School when she was a student there.

Nakelski was prosecuted, but charges were dismissed because of a technicality, according to Ms. Gomez's lawyer, Thomas F. Liotti. PWPD Attorney Stephen Ressa advised that Nakelski was discharged by the police district about a year ago, after a finding of misconduct.

Nakelski allegedly struck Gomez on October 9, 1997, when she was fifteen years old, for smoking a cigarette near the school with a fellow student.

Thomas Liotti stated: "Such outrageous misconduct by a police officer deserves punishment. Fortunately, Christine was not seriously hurt physically, but she will undoubtedly be distrustful of police for the rest of her days. That's something you just do not forget."