Discrimination Lawsuit filed by Hill Law Firm: Racism, Sexism and Homophobia Alleged
On Thursday, November 7, 2013, Hill Law Firm, along with our co-counsel, Rodney Pat Ramsey of Waxahachie, Texas, and Melissa Fletcher Morales and Lawrence Morales of the Morales Law Firm in San Antonio, Texas, filed a Complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division against the City of Red Oak and Red Oak’s former police Chief, Craig Rudolph. The Complaint was filed on behalf of eight (8) current and former police officers of the Red Oak Police Department.
The allegations in the Complaint include outrageous facts describing a police department that was completely out of control. The Complaint includes allegations of racial discrimination as well as rampant retaliation. According to the Complaint, the City’s former police Chief frequently made derogatory comments about African Americans, homosexuals, women, and people of Middle Eastern descent. On one occasion, one of the Plaintiffs, who is an African American male, logged onto his computer to find an animated monkey in a police uniform saved on his desktop.
Several officers raised concerns over the Chief’s derogatory, discriminatory language as well as the lack of training for their new firearms, which is a matter of public concern for the citizens of Red Oak. As a result of them speaking up, they were intimidated and ostracized by others within the department and retaliated against. One officer was even fired for voicing his concerns.
After two of the officers filed official charges of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the City opened a limited investigation and soon thereafter, fired its police Chief. Hopefully this lawsuit will force the City to change its ways, putting an end to the environment pervasive within the City’s Police Department that fosters discrimination and bigotry.
If you have information about the City of Red Oak’s policies and procedures concerning its discriminatory practices or if you have been a victim of discrimination or retaliation in the workplace, please call the Employment Lawyer at Hill Law Firm.