Three officers sue city of Greensboro for racial discrimination

Charles Cherry, Joseph Pryor and Robert Reyes, three officers who were fired by the Greensboro Police Department in 2010 and 2011 after complaining about discrimination and retaliation, have filed suit in federal court against the city of Greensboro.

Read the complaint here (link).

Cherry and Pryor are also plaintiffs in a discrimination lawsuit (background here) against the city involving 39 black officers based on events that took place under the administration of former Chief David Wray before 2006. The first lawsuit, which was filed in 2009, is in discovery. The new lawsuit is based on events that took place under Wray's successors, chiefs Tim Bellamy and Ken Miller.

Cherry, Pryor and Reyes all received “right to sue” letters from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission notifying them that the commission was “unable to conclude that the information obtained establishes violations of the statutes,” but that the plaintiffs are free to proceed with a private lawsuit.

The three plaintiffs are represented by Anita Earls, executive director of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice.

From the complaint:

The plaintiffs are a captain and two police officers formerly employed by the defendant city of Greensboro’s police department who were targeted for unwanted transfers, received other unjustified disciplinary actions, and ultimately were terminated from employment because of their race and national origin....

In retaliation for their complaints and because of their race and national origin, the GPD discharged all three officers on pre-textual grounds. Their careers shattered and their professional reputations called into question, former Captain Charles Cherry, Officer Pryor and Officer Reyes have been unable to serve the public in the role of police officer as a result of the discriminatory actions of the GPD.


Background here (link).

The lawsuit asks the court to order the city to immediately reinstate the plaintiffs, to quit engaging "in unlawful and discriminatory acts, to institute training for department employees "responsible for making determinations regarding complaints of discrimination" and award compensatory damages to the plaintiffs.

No comments: