EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION: 3 SoCal Officers File Race Discrimination Suit

March 2, 2011

Westminster – The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) has received a discrimination complaint from three Latino police officers after their South California employer refused to promote them because of their ethnicity.

According to the officers’ suit that was filed on Wednesday, they were passed over several times in handling special assignments and investigations despite their honors and achievements. The complainants said the positions and tasks were given to less experienced and less qualified white officers.

Brian Perez, who has worked in Westminster Police Department since 2003, was not considered when he applied for a detective job, but found out that a white officer, who was working for only a year, got the position.

“It is glaring to the point where I can’t figure out anything else except discrimination”, Perez said.

The employer of the three officers has yet to give a statement regarding the racial discrimination suit.