Topic of the Day: Michigan Officer files discrimination suit
13 On Your Side wants to know your thoughts:
A Michigan police officer is suing his city for stress and medical complications he suffered by the hands of his fellow officers. According to reports Sergeant Cleon Brown, a 19-year veteran of the Hastings Police Department filed the suit after months of bullying.
According to Brown’s attorneys it all began when Officer Brown took a genetic test through ancestry.com. When Brown received the results it showed he was 18 percent African; according to Brown the taunting began after he told fellow officers of the results.
In court documents Brown alleges that his own police chief began calling him “Kunta” referring to a character in the movie “Roots” which depicts the lives of slaves. Brown is also accusing other officers of using racial slurs and in some cases yelling “Black Lives Matter” while beating their chests.
The city and the Hastings Police Department are claiming that it was Sergeant Brown who initiated the conversation regarding his results and according to their account, Brown made derogatory, inappropriate, insensitive, and rude comments about African-Americans. Claims, Brown’s attorneys are calling a fabrication.
Sergeant Brown is suing the City of Hastings for half a million dollars.
13 On Your Side wants to know your thoughts:
What do you think about Officer Brown’s allegations of discrimination?
