'Cop killed himself because boss wouldn't end affair'

A New York police officer was driven to kill himself because of his female supervisor's relentless demands for sex, the officer's wife claims.

A lawsuit filed by widow Gina Schindler said her husband Matthew Schindler's career depended on "submission to the sexual advances" of his married supervisor, Sgt. Christine Hirtzel.

The father-of-three is alleged to have had sexual relations with Ms Hirtzel and "was made to understand that he would suffer tangible detriment in his job, job assignments, work conditions and future prospects if he did not submit to the sexual advances and demands of [Hirtzel]," the lawsuit claims.

Ms Schindler alleges her husband tried to end his affair with Ms Hirtzel the day before Valentine's Day last year, but she refused.

He then shot himself on the side of a highway.

The suit claims Mr Schindler told Ms Hirtzel he would kill himself if she would not allow him to end their affair.

Ms Hirtzel is said to have stormed out of the police station where she was working when she learned of the lawsuit.