Armenian National Committee – Glendale
211 W. Chestnut St., Suite 302
Glendale, CA 91204
Contact: Elen Asatryan
Phone: 818.243.3444 or 818.523.8389
Email: elen@ancglendale.org
PRESS RELEASE
ANC Glendale Releases Statement Regarding Police Discrimination Lawsuit
Glendale, CA – The Armenian National Committee of Glendale released the
following statement at the February 2, 2010 meeting of the Glendale City
Council regarding the Glendale Police Department Discrimination Lawsuit.
On January 20, 2010, four current and one former sworn officers of the
Glendale Police Department Filed a Federal Civil Rights lawsuit in Federal
Court alleging Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation on the basis of
National Origin and Ancestry. The allegations made in the complaint are both
disturbing and appalling. Even if a fraction of these allegations in the
complaint are established in a court of law, the City of Glendale has a long
way to go on the way to becoming the city that we all envision and deserve.
The Armenian National Committee of Glendale is gravely concerned about the
statement made by the City Attorney, Mr. Scott Howard, immediately following
the filing of the Complaint. According to the Glendale News Press article of
January 25, 2010, City Attorney Scott Howard stated, "There are many
allegations in the complaint, which are absolutely, utterly false." We would
expect that the City Attorney’s office at the very least, conduct a
preliminary investigation before opining about the merits of serious
allegations such as those contained in the complaint.
The Glendale Police Department has a track record of lawsuits stemming from
discrimination and improper conduct by its officers, many of which have
resulted in settlements or jury verdicts against the City, and even punitive
damages against individual police officers. The 2009 jury verdict and $1.58
million judgment, including attorney fees, in the Ovasapian v. City of
Glendale case, is the latest example in this now long list of cases
resulting in adverse court decisions. The City’s inability and unwillingness
to conduct meaningful and objective investigations into the merits of such
complaints and police misconduct in the past, have resulted in many millions
of dollars which Glendale residents have been forced to bear.
In fact, even after an adverse judgment in the Ovasapian case, the City
Council, during public session, made a statement absolving the Police
Officers and the Department of any wrong doing and assuming the $150,000
punitive damages award against the individual officers. Despite the finding
of malice by the Federal Court and jury, the Glendale City Council released
the following statement during its October 27, 2009 meeting "We recognize
that this was a very unfortunate incident, however. we find that the
officers acted in good faith, without actual malice and an apparent best
interest of the city of Glendale." In effect, the City Council condoned the
wrongful acts of these police officers. Not surprisingly, both officers are
named defendants in the current law suit.
In the months to come, the judicial process will be guided by a Federal
District Court Judge and the outcome decided by a jury. In the meantime, It
is very important that officials of the City of Glendale and the Glendale
Police Department refrain from drawing conclusions about this lawsuit, until
there is a full investigation and due process. It is also very important
that as the judicial process runs its course, the police officers presenting
these charges be shielded from any direct or indirect workplace harassment
or retaliation.
The Armenian National Committee of Glendale will be closely monitoring this
case with the expectation that there will be full transparency in the
investigation, and the confidence that the judicial system will reveal the
facts and lead to an ultimate fair outcome.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress