Carol Shaya
Encyclopedia
Carol J. Shaya-Castro is a former New York City
police officer
and actress whose employment was terminated after she appeared in the August 1994 issue of Playboy
magazine.
, Israel
and emigrated to America as a child. Her religion is Greek Orthodox. Her father and ex-husband also worked as police officers.
dismissed Shaya-Castro, saying her appearance in Playboy violated the City Charter and the department's rules, so she was unfit to be a police officer.
In response, Shaya-Castro sued the department for US$10,000,000 for wrongful dismissal
and gender discrimination. In her claim, she said that other, male, officers who appeared in pornographic films, not just softcore
pictorials, were merely suspended, and not fired. Her lawsuit was criticized by Stanley Crouch
in an American Enterprise Institute
speech. The case, , was decided against her, and upheld on appeal.
. Shaya also starred in the direct-to-video
Silent Prey in 1997. In August 2004, the New York Times reported Shaya was selling real estate
in the Queens
borough of New York City
.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
police officer
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
and actress whose employment was terminated after she appeared in the August 1994 issue of Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
magazine.
Personal life
Shaya was born in JaffaJaffa
Jaffa is an ancient port city believed to be one of the oldest in the world. Jaffa was incorporated with Tel Aviv creating the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Jaffa is famous for its association with the biblical story of the prophet Jonah.-Etymology:...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and emigrated to America as a child. Her religion is Greek Orthodox. Her father and ex-husband also worked as police officers.
Playboy appearance
In August 1994 Shaya, a NYPD officer, appeared nude in Playboy. On October 28, the NYPD filed departmental charges against Shaya, for unauthorized off-duty employment and improper use of her uniform and the Police Department logo. On March 7, 1995, Commissioner William J. BrattonWilliam J. Bratton
William Joseph "Bill" Bratton CBE is an American law enforcement officer who served as the chief of police of the Los Angeles Police Department , New York City Police Commissioner, and Boston Police Commissioner....
dismissed Shaya-Castro, saying her appearance in Playboy violated the City Charter and the department's rules, so she was unfit to be a police officer.
In response, Shaya-Castro sued the department for US$10,000,000 for wrongful dismissal
Wrongful dismissal
Wrongful dismissal, also called wrongful termination or wrongful discharge, is an idiom and legal phrase, describing a situation in which an employee's contract of employment has been terminated by the employer in circumstances where the termination breaches one or more terms of the contract of...
and gender discrimination. In her claim, she said that other, male, officers who appeared in pornographic films, not just softcore
Softcore
Softcore pornography is a form of filmic or photographic pornography or erotica that is less sexually explicit than hardcore pornography. It is intended to tickle and arouse men and women. Softcore pornography depicts nude and semi-nude performers engaging in casual social nudity or non-graphic...
pictorials, were merely suspended, and not fired. Her lawsuit was criticized by Stanley Crouch
Stanley Crouch
Stanley Crouch is an American music and cultural critic, syndicated columnist, and novelist, perhaps best known for his jazz criticism, and his novel Don't the Moon Look Lonesome?- Biography :...
in an American Enterprise Institute
American Enterprise Institute
The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research is a conservative think tank founded in 1943. Its stated mission is "to defend the principles and improve the institutions of American freedom and democratic capitalism—limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and...
speech. The case, , was decided against her, and upheld on appeal.
Later career
In 1994, Shaya appeared in bit parts in two episodes of the television police drama, New York UndercoverNew York Undercover
New York Undercover is an American police drama that aired on the FOX television network from 1994 to 1998. The series starred Malik Yoba as Detective J.C. Williams and Michael DeLorenzo as Detective Eddie Torres, two undercover detectives in New York City's 4th Precinct who were assigned to...
. Shaya also starred in the direct-to-video
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
Silent Prey in 1997. In August 2004, the New York Times reported Shaya was selling real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
in the Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
borough of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.