5 Police Officers Charge Department for Discrimination

May 29, 2009

Los Angeles, California - Five police officers filed a discrimination lawsuit against seven department officials over allegation that they tolerated severe discriminatory acts and sexual harassment.

Former Burbank police officers Elfego Rodriguez, Jamal Childs, Cindy Guillen-Gomez, Steve Karagiosian, and Lt. Omar Rodriguez accused the department officials of allowing their constituents to engage in discriminatory practices, even retaliating against those who complained on such abuses.

In a 63-page complaint, the plaintiffs accused the department officials of tolerating discrimination based on gender, race, and color and of allowing slurs which target Black, Hispanics, and other ethnic groups.

According to the officers, they reported these discriminatory acts to their superiors who threatened them with demotion and discouraged them from mentioning again the issue.

In a statement, Atty. Solomon E. Gresen, who represents the five police officers, said that discriminatory acts target all employees except White heterosexual males. With such hostilities and abuses, Gresen added that female officers and those from ethnic groups are deprived with employment opportunities.

Gresen also accused the department senior officials of harassing people who complained on such abuses.