A settlement has been reached between the city of St. Louis and a high-ranking police officer, bringing an end to one of three racial or gender discrimination lawsuits against the city. The officer, Major Michael Caruso, originally sued the city over allegations that “he was passed over for the same job that Jones was passed over because he was white.” While his attorneys haven’t released any details about Caruso’s lawsuit and the settlement, they did confirm “it’s been resolved.”
When people go to work each morning, the last thing they expect to face is discrimination of any kind, especially in 2017. Unfortunately, racial and gender discrimination happens far more often than one might realize, even in the city of St. Louis. For example, a settlement has been reached between the city of St. Louis and a high-ranking police officer, bringing an end to one of three racial or gender discrimination lawsuits against the city. The officer, Major Michael Caruso, originally sued the city over allegations that “he was passed over for the same job that Jones was passed over because he was white.” While his attorneys haven’t released any details about Caruso’s lawsuit and the settlement, they did confirm “it’s been resolved.”
The news of the settlement comes as “as two other discrimination lawsuits are pending.” As previously mentioned, there are two other discrimination lawsuits against the city over allegations of racial and gender discrimination. In one case, Major Rochelle Jones, decided to sue the city because, according to her, “she wasn’t promoted to lieutenant colonel because she is a woman.” In the lawsuit, she said she had “more experience with the department, more education and a better score on a competency test than the man who got the job.” In a statement her attorney, J.C. Pleban said:
“The fact of the matter is when discrimination occurs, or things that look like discrimination occur, the policies aren’t followed. She’s a person who’s done the right thing throughout her history, throughout her career. She’s done what she’s been asked to do and she’s done it well. And when she does that and doesn’t get the promotion, that stings. There’s no doubt about that.”
At the moment, the city has yet to comment on the Jone’s case because it is still pending.
In the third case, three African American sergeants claimed they endured racial discrimination at the hands of the police department and alleged that “the department has disproportionately promoted Caucasian sergeants to lieutenants for the past three years.”
In response to the allegations from Caruso, Jones, and the three African American sergeants, the St. Louis police department said:
“The department has been criticized both for not promoting enough African American candidates, as well as for not promoting Caucasian candidates.”
For now, it’s good that at least one of the lawsuits has been settled. Hopefully, Jones and the other three unnamed officers will find justice soon as well.
Sources:
St. Louis faces lawsuits after discrimination allegations in police department
Settlement reached in 2 discrimination cases against the St. Louis police department
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