By Christopher N. Osher
The Denver Post
DENVER — A federal class-action lawsuit filed Wednesday on behalf of 16 Latino Denver police officers alleges a pattern of discriminatory practices by the Police Department.
The lawsuit states that officers who complained of discrimination were retaliated against. One officer had a fake bomb placed in his desk, the lawsuit claims. The lawsuit also states that others who complained were called traitors, were subjected to racist language and were told they would not, while on the streets, receive backup from other officers.
The city disputes the contentions in the lawsuit and that the department had fostered a “hostile working environment” for Latinos, pointing out that after two years of hearings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, none of the complaints was found to have merit.
“The Police Department works hard to foster an environment of diversity and tolerance, treat its employees fairly and without bias, and follows its policies and practices of nondiscrimination and nonretaliation,” said spokesman Lt. Ronald Saunier in a statement released on behalf of Denver Police Chief Gerry Whitman. “Most importantly, there has not been a single charge in which the EEOC has found probable cause that the city discriminated, harassed or retaliated against any of the charging parties.”
Saunier added that the Police Department has hired an equal-employment opportunity coordinator and has additional oversight with the hiring in 2005 of independent monitor Richard Rosenthal.
In conjunction with the filing of the suit, the Denver chapter of the Latino Peace Officers Association played an audiotape of a 1979 Police Department training session for recruits.
During the session, the trainer repeatedly subjects recruits to shouted racial epithets and sexist, demeaning language and racist stereotypes. Those filing the lawsuit declined to identify the trainer, but they said he no longer works for the city.
“It began with the recruits in this tape, and it continues on today,” said Leonard Martinez, one of the lawyers filing the lawsuit. “Some of the recruits that are involved with this may be supervisors, may be captains, and this was the way they were trained, and we believe it follows throughout to the pattern and practice that continues today.”
Recruits present at the training who are still on the force felt pain over the racist language, said Sgt. Leonard Mares, one of those suing.
In addition to Mares, the lawsuit names several current and former officers as plaintiffs.
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages and the “creation of a monitoring and reporting system” to ensure that proper relief measures are put in place.
It also seeks to have the files of all those suing purged of any ``written disciplinary actions and other materials resulting from defendants’ unlawful actions.’'
Copyright 2008 The Denver Post