Maybe Philly just racist? Hmm Maybe they are!!!!

[cutthemdown]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/07/17/police.racism.lawsuit/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

A group of black Philadelphia police officers filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against their department, alleging an online forum geared toward city police is "infested with racist, white supremacist and anti-African-American content."

[TDmvp]

http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/imgad?id=CIeGpZiIypfoSBDYBRhPMgjYgaxR5ZHdLQ


ponder this ad in this thread lol ...Hilarious! Hilarious! Hilarious!

[footstepsfrom#27]

Great. Just the kind of people we need legally carrying guns and sworn to protect the public.

[footstepsfrom#27]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/05/six-burbank-officers-sue-department-for-pattern-of-discrimination.html

Five Burbank officers sue department for discriminatory practices

2:41 PM | May 29, 2009

Five Burbank police officers have filed a lawsuit against the department and seven current police officials alleging they allowed a pattern of discrimination and sexual harassment and retaliated against those who complained about it.

The 63-page suit was filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court by attorneys for Lt. Omar Rodriguez and former officers Cindy Guillen-Gomez, Steve Karagiosian, Elfego Rodriguez and Jamal Childs. They are seeking damages of up to $10 million.

The suit alleges that department officials tolerated an environment where officers commonly used slurs about race, ethnicity and sexual preference directed at them, their colleagues, suspects and the public at large.

The slurs included the "N" word, the "C" word, "taco vendor" and "towel head." The plaintiffs also allege that officers reported this and other illegal acts to their supervisors, who "threatened, demoted, ordered them to shut up." One female officer was threatened with anal rape, according to the suit.

"The pervasive discriminatory practices of the Burbank Police Department are the product of an insider group working hand in hand with the department's senior management," said Solomon E. Gresen, the attorney for the officers. "The evidence will also show that this 'group' conspired with Burbank Police Chief Tim Stehr to exclude all but white, heterosexual male officers from the department's most attractive employment opportunities and to harass and retaliate against department members who have taken action to oppose this."

In their suit, the plaintiffs noted that in the nearly 100-year history of the Burbank Police Department, no African American had been promoted above the rank of police officer.

-- Andrew Blankstein

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/07/sixth-burbank-police-officer-sues-department-for-discrimination.html

Sixth Burbank officer sues department over discrimination

5:46 PM | July 16, 2009

A decorated Asian American police detective filed a civil lawsuit today against the Burbank Police Department, alleging that he was the victim of discrimination and retaliation before being unlawfully fired.

Christopher Lee Dunn, who won the Medal of Valor as a Los Angeles Police Department officer before joining the Burbank force, argued in a 22-page complaint that he was subjected to years of racial taunts and discouraged from joining the department's narcotics unit because he was not white. After success with another unit, the lawsuit alleges he was targeted by management before eventually being run out of the department.

In May, five Burbank police officers sued the department and seven current police officials, alleging that they tolerated an environment in which officers commonly used slurs about race, ethnicity and sexual preference directed at them, their colleagues, suspects and the public at large.

Dunn's suit, filed separately, seeks civil penalties and compensatory damages. The Burbank city attorney's office did not immediately return a call for comment.

In addition to the Medal of Valor and the 1999 Top Cop Award, which was presented to him by then-President Bill Clinton, Dunn was the recipient of the 2007 Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Award and the Professional Esteem Award from the Burbank City Council.

According to the suit, Dunn's troubles began over his efforts to join an elite narcotics unit. Dunn alleges that he initially was discouraged by members of the “all-white” unit who said they did not want work with non-whites. When he ultimately was promoted, he alleges that he was subjected to racist jokes and comments.

Dunn's suit alleges that he was given less desirable assignments in the unit despite having more narcotics seizures than any other Burbank officer. When one of the offending colleagues was transferred, Dunn claims the harassment got worse.

A 2007 complaint against Dunn alleged that he had “tipped off” an informant about a Culver City Police Department investigation. The informant was arrested in possession of enough narcotics to support felony trafficking charges and ultimately recanted her allegations against Dunn.

Dunn was first transferred to another unit and later placed on paid administrative leave. Despite an unsubstantiated complaint that did not result in criminal charges, Dunn alleges that he was terminated on charges that he interfered with the investigation and for insubordination.

—Andrew Blankstein

[Los Broncos]

"taco vendor" thats messed up....

[Florida_Bronco]

I don't understand why they're suing their department because of comments posted on a private forum? ???

[loborugger]

I love how you cant say the 'N' word but you can say towel head and taco vendor. Wow. You can probably get away with Kyke, chink, wop, etc, but just whatever you do, dont say the 'N' word.

Unless of course your black.

[footstepsfrom#27]

I don't understand why they're suing their department because of comments posted on a private forum? ???
Aside from the fact they're posting this crap at work on police computers, which probably doesn't rise to the level of creating a hostile work environment...they don't appear to have a case unless they're doing something else like identifying people at work.

Is that really the point here...the validy of the suit?

I'd say the point is more about the fact that you have a bunch of people charged with the public trust and these A-holes are not the kind who ought to have those jobs if they feel this way. Cops come into daily contact with people of all races and they carry guns...there's a long history of racial shootings, profiling, suspicious deaths of people in custody, police brutality, etc...and frequently people in the community find it hard to believe police officers hold these views and give them the benefit of the doubt. A peek inside their world...at least in Phillly...is quite revealing.

And people wonder why blacks and Hispanics have problems trusting cops?

This is a good example why.

[gunns]

The "C" word? Ewww that's about the worst thing you can call a woman. All in all, not surprising.

[cutthemdown]

I love how you cant say the 'N' word but you can say towel head and taco vendor. Wow. You can probably get away with Kyke, chink, wop, etc, but just whatever you do, dont say the 'N' word.

Unless of course your black.

some races have done a better job at turning the slander phrases into taboo words. Others have not made a big enough deal over it yet, or because they aren't associated with slavery its not seen as a big deal.

[cutthemdown]

The "C" word? Ewww that's about the worst thing you can call a woman. All in all, not surprising.

I have heard that, but really never understood it really. You would think whore, slut, stinkbush would all be worst.

[footstepsfrom#27]

The "C" word? Ewww that's about the worst thing you can call a woman. All in all, not surprising.
Agreed. We have people on this board who've used it several times. I hate that word and any guy who uses it is a low life turd. It's highly offensive and displays a lot more about someone than using generic curse words like the F or S words...it shows you're an ignorant ass.

On a side note...several years ago I had some idiot email me anonomously...or so they thought...apparently not knowing anything about how IP addresses are sent via email. I found the computer...and it was located in a government office in San Jose CA. This same computer was used to post thousands of incredibly nasty race-based hate messages on white supremacy sites. Amazingly...the individual used an online psuedoname with their posts with their actual email address attached to it in the profile. Googling it brought up about 10 more websites they posted this garbage on. I emailed the San Jose city manager and 2 hours later got a return email saying this woman...I had no idea it was a woman...was fired for this. I didn't even ask for this...I merely asked it be looked into.

Moral of the story...use a brain when you post on a work related computer. There's no case agaisnt the Philly cops based on this private website IMO...but that doesnt' mean some of them won't get canned.

[loborugger]

some races have done a better job at turning the slander phrases into taboo words. Others have not made a big enough deal over it yet, or because they aren't associated with slavery its not seen as a big deal.

Or, it has to do with white guilt and mental programming.

Honestly, how is one racial slur unspeakable and the other not?

[Florida_Bronco]

Aside from the fact they're posting this crap at work on police computers, which probably doesn't rise to the level of creating a hostile work environment...they don't appear to have a case unless they're doing something else like identifying people at work. That's what I was thinking.

[footstepsfrom#27]

That's what I was thinking.
Sometimes the best remedy isn't a legal one. Just by filing the suit, they've put a huge bruise on the Philadelphia PD's public image, cost the city the expense of fighting it in court, identifed perpetrators by name on public documents, drawn national attention to what these jackwipes thought was a cute little secret and undoubtedly cost somebody or more likely several somebodies their jobs. The mayor is probably already up in the Police Chief's shorts and how many lawyers do you suppose are looking for civil rights cases to file with minority plaintiffs in Philly now who might have thought twice based on the likelyhood of collecting before this came to light?

[Florida_Bronco]

Sometimes the best remedy isn't a legal one. Just by filing the suit, they've put a huge bruise on the Philadelphia PD's public image, cost the city the expense of fighting it in court, identifed perpetrators by name on public documents, drawn national attention to what these jackwipes thought was a cute little secret and undoubtedly cost somebody or more likely several somebodies their jobs. The mayor is probably already up in the Police Chief's shorts and how many lawyers do you suppose are looking for civil rights cases to file with minority plaintiffs in Philly now who might have thought twice based on the likelyhood of collecting before this came to light?

Agreed. I actually have a good friend who works for Philly PD and from what I hear, it sounds like they could really use some re-workings in alot of different areas.

[cutthemdown]

Or, it has to do with white guilt and mental programming.

Honestly, how is one racial slur unspeakable and the other not?

I don't know I just know things like wetback are terms used to describe how someone got to America, while things like ****er are terms associated with blacks being less then human and used as slaves.

So I do see the difference, but I also see the irony that they will blank out ****er, but have no problem writing towel head, or wetback out.

[gyldenlove]

Agreed. We have people on this board who've used it several times. I hate that word and any guy who uses it is a low life turd. It's highly offensive and displays a lot more about someone than using generic curse words like the F or S words...it shows you're an ignorant ass.

On a side note...several years ago I had some idiot email me anonomously...or so they thought...apparently not knowing anything about how IP addresses are sent via email. I found the computer...and it was located in a government office in San Jose CA. This same computer was used to post thousands of incredibly nasty race-based hate messages on white supremacy sites. Amazingly...the individual used an online psuedoname with their posts with their actual email address attached to it in the profile. Googling it brought up about 10 more websites they posted this garbage on. I emailed the San Jose city manager and 2 hours later got a return email saying this woman...I had no idea it was a woman...was fired for this. I didn't even ask for this...I merely asked it be looked into.

Moral of the story...use a brain when you post on a work related computer. There's no case agaisnt the Philly cops based on this private website IMO...but that doesnt' mean some of them won't get canned.

If they can argue that the website is only an example of the mindset that is pervasive in the Philly PD and that that mindset has cost them promotions, have lead to a hostile work environment and harassment they have a valid case.

This will almost certainly be hushed up, I imagine some firings, some people will be send to mandatory sensitivity classes, some damages will be paid. This kind of case is bad mojo, it increases tensions in the department, tensions with non-white suspects, and especially tensions with city hall.

[Dukes]

The "C" word? Ewww that's about the worst thing you can call a woman. All in all, not surprising.

Maybe it was "cracker" instead of that other one......

ok maybe not.

[footstepsfrom#27]

If they can argue that the website is only an example of the mindset that is pervasive in the Philly PD and that that mindset has cost them promotions, have lead to a hostile work environment and harassment they have a valid case.

This will almost certainly be hushed up, I imagine some firings, some people will be send to mandatory sensitivity classes, some damages will be paid. This kind of case is bad mojo, it increases tensions in the department, tensions with non-white suspects, and especially tensions with city hall.
You can never trust the press for the full story so who knows if the report's accurate but it seems at this point the basis for the suit is the website, not other discriminatory practices merely exemplified by the website. If so...they'll have to have more than racist speech on a private site...but on duty cops using city computers WILL get people fired, and you make a valid point about a hostile work environment. Cops...much more so than any other job IMO...have to demonstrate they are above this kind of thing since they're working around the very people they're so filled with disgust for. That's dangerous and it points out why the black community has been saying for years that they don't trust the police. I've personally witnessed things here in Texas that I know were discriminatory towards the AA community by cops and they largely go ignored or covered up until someone steps up and sues or makes a fuss in the press. A few years ago in Dallas a bunch of cops cooked up a scheme to actually frame innocent people in the Hispanic community with phony cocain busts. Can you imagine the level of hatred it takes to deliberately send an innocent person to prison and destroy their life because they're a different race than you? That just blows my mind.

[El Minion]

Agreed. I actually have a good friend who works for Philly PD and from what I hear, it sounds like they could really use some re-workings in alot of different areas.

The LAPD recently was released from federal oversight (http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-consent-decree18-2009jul18,3,4116180.story) after sufficiently reforming itself after the Rampart scandal, so the Philly PD can too but it's a matter of political and law enforcement will.

I definitely sense and have experienced a more responsive LAPD today, not the "we vs them" attitude of the Daryl Gates PD or the ineffectual Willie Williams and Bernard Parks tenures.

[cutthemdown]

I've found LAPD to be very laid back but I'm white. In the past I have seen them treat minorities with a lack of respect. Haven't had any contact with them for awhile now but back in the day they were like gangsters with badges.

[El Minion]

I've found LAPD to be very laid back but I'm white. In the past I have seen them treat minorities with a lack of respect. Haven't had any contact with them for awhile now but back in the day they were like gangsters with badges.

Encouragingly, FTA, 2/3 of LAPD's officers have been hired since the decree was ordered which probably means a younger and more malleable police officer. And diverse as well, no more of the cowboys and yahoos of old.

I remember growing up watching on the local news the deployment and destructive use of the LAPD new weapon on the war on drugs and Gates baby - the battering ram. It looked like war footage, a war on our own people.

http://media.popularmechanics.com/images/9705STMIE.gif