"His tone and intimidating manner made me wonder if I was a prisoner, a boot camp recruit, or worse yet, a slave," Ugwuegbu wrote.
Responding to a question about the letter, Police Chief Paul E. Johnson said this week that Behenna had undergone "retraining and admonishment" because of his behavior on the job.
He did not specify the nature of the retraining, and could not be reached yesterday.
Two department employees with more than 10 years experience said they were not aware of any specific program for retraining employees. Each said it is possible that Johnson had worked something out on his own.
Johnson said there had been "several complaints" from Behenna's co-workers about how he treated them.
He said he could not recall if Ugwuegbu's complaint had been one of those that prompted the retraining of Behenna. He declined to discuss the other complaints against Behenna.
Johnson's statement was the first public indication by any University official acknowledging concern over Behenna's conduct.
Steiner said last spring that there was only a "perception of a problem" within the guard unit.
And in his first public comments on the subject last month, Connors said he knew of no problems in the security department, and suggested that some guards were using allegations of racial discrimination as a "crutch."
No Response to Complaint
Ugwuegbu said in an interview last week that while she pressed Dowling several times about her complaint, he never responded. John F. Lakin, attorney for Dowling, said this week that his client did not wish to comment on the matter.
Dowling and Behenna, many guards say, are friendly on the job and spend time together outside the security supervisors' office.
No other investigation of the department is planned. Connors said he wants to hear from any guards who may have complaints about how they are being treated. Connors said he has received most of his information about the security guard unit from Patrick, Harvard's director of human resources, and Johnson.
The guard controversy--and the conduct of Behenna--promises to be one issue newly appointed general counsel Margaret H. Marshal will have to address when she takes office November 1.
Some guards said this week they may take up their complaints with the new general counsel, who oversees the police and security departments.
"The problem with the whole department has been supervisors," said one longtime employee of the police department. "I just don't hear anything changing. My question is, 'Why not?'"