Burbank Leader , CA
May 29 2009
Officers file discrimination suit
By Christopher Cadelago
Published: Last Updated Friday, May 29, 2009 4:02 PM PDT
CITY CENTER ‘ One lieutenant and four Burbank police officers filed a
lawsuit against the department Thursday, alleging that they were
subjected to routine racial discrimination and sexual harassment, and
then faced retaliation from the command staff when they complained.
The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf
of Lt. Omar Rodriguez and police officers Cindy Guillen-Gomez, Steve
Karagiosian, Elfego Rodriguez and Jamal Childs.
According to the complaint, the officers `were subjected to
discrimination and discriminatory policies, practices and procedures
based upon race, ancestry, national origin, sex/gender, marital
status, and pregnancy, among other things.’
Discriminatory practices within the department included pervasive use
of racial epithets and other inflammatory language, according to the
complaint.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit allege that the department has for decades
pursued hiring practices that favor heterosexual white males at the
expense of minorities and women.
`The evidence will also show that the department has tolerated the use
of unbelievably offensive racial, sexual and ethnic slurs. It has
become so pervasive that it has long been a departmental practice,’
Solomon E. Gresen, the attorney representing the officers, said in a
statement.
A representative for Gresen’s law firm, Rheuban & Gresen, said the
lawsuit would be publicly announced at a news conference Monday in Los
Angeles. Omar Rodriguez, who is the highest-ranking officer in the
lawsuit, joined the department 21 years ago as its first Cuban officer
and served on the Special Enforcement Detail between 1992 and 1995.
In November, he was promoted to detective after being skipped over
twice in favor of lower-scoring Caucasian candidates, according to the
complaint. As a lieutenant, Omar Rodriguez hired an openly gay female
police officer. Threats and intimidation by various members of the
department soon followed, some of whom threatened to do whatever was
necessary to see him terminated `in disgrace,’ according to the
complaint.
Throughout his tenure, attorneys for Omar Rodriguez claimed he
observed numerous incidents of discrimination, harassment and
retaliation within the department. The lawsuit cites several instances
in which officers called him `Paco,’ Julio,’ `wetback,’ and `taco
vendor.’
Officers also allegedly used `Juan Doe’ and `Tyrone Doe’ to describe
unidentified Latino and black suspects
Guillen-Gomez also claims male colleagues called her a `bitch,’
`whore,’ and the `C’ word. They also described women as having `no
business being detectives’ and being `worthless,’ according to the
lawsuit.
Officers also allegedly threatened Karagiosian, who is of Armenian
descent, with his life, in addition to a cadre of racial and ethnic
slurs.
And Officer Elfego Rodriguez was allegedly told by a peer that he
`looks like the bad guys we chase,’ according to the lawsuit.
The plaintiffs also allege that they were passed over for promotions
and retaliated against when they complained about the harassment.
Visit for continuing updates on the story.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
