LAPD Faces $2.4M Payouts To Black, Lesbian Officers

The city of Los Angeles is facing payouts of $1.2 million and $1.24 million to LAPD officers who sued the department, claiming discrimination, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The city of Los Angeles is facing payouts of $1.2 million and $1.24 million to LAPD officers who sued the department, claiming discrimination, reports the Los Angeles Times.

On Tuesday, a jury ordered the city to pay $1.2 million to Earl Wright, a former Central Division veteran officer who claimed his supervisor, Sgt. Peter Foster, and other officers carried out racial pranks that left him "embarrassed and humiliated," the Times reported.

Wright, who joined the LAPD in 1989, claimed the pranks involved references to fried chicken and watermelons. A fellow black officer, Randall McCain, said Wright participated in the jokes and then "lied about the way he was feeling."

On March 20, the City Council approved a $1.24 million payment to a lesbian officer and retired lesbian officer who claimed they were subjected to repeated sexual harassment by a supervisor.

Now-retired Officer Linda Gotham and Officer Lynn Whitey, both openly gay, were assigned to the Van Nuys Division in 2010, when they say their supervisor Sgt. Randy Hoffmaster repeatedly made vulgar sexual comments and propositions. Hoffmaster resigned from the LAPD following an internal investigation, reports the Times.

Related:

Is Sexual Harassment Just Bonding in Disguise?

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