Now, in an explosive trial underway in Manhattan Federal Court, ex-gumshoe Joann Karmel, 52, hopes the tape and evidence of raunchy verbal abuse at the hands of male colleagues will force the city to pay her a sizable damage award.

"In the space of a few years, [she] went from fully functioning, excellent detective to not being fit for duty," said Karmel's lawyer Robert Herbst. "She's been greatly stressed, clinically depressed and at times she began to think of killing herself.

At 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, Karmel was dubbed Big Bird by fellow detectives. But that was mild compared with comments that ranged from nastiness about her body to suggestions her husband had sex with their dog.

But city attorneys accuse Karmel of being a liar and manipulator. They concede a detective made the comment regarding her husband and the dog, but claim it was "stupid" humor that shouldn't have led to a federal suit. "Was it an idiotic remark? Yes," said defense lawyer Patricia Miller. "Stupid for the workplace? Of course."

Miller explained the comment was prompted by repeated calls from Karmel's husband while she was on wiretap duty, telling her that their dog, Shasta, was sick.

"I can just see Shasta on top of your husband's [expletive]," the detective said as he pantomimed the act.