Two Los Angeles police officers who shot a unarmed black man filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the city alleging their desk duty is a result of racial discrimination.
Officers Sharlton Wampler and Antonio Villegas alleged that both their races and the race of the man they shot prevented them from returning to the field, reports the LA Times. The officers also said they have faced backlash over a complaint they filed in August 2015 that also claimed racial discrimination.
The lawsuit describes Wampler as white and Villegas as Latino, though department records list Wampler as “Asian American.”
Wampler and Villegas worked in an anti-gang unit of the department when they came across Ezrell Ford, a 25-year-old black man diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The suit claims that Ford tried to grab Wampler’s gun. Wampler, who feared for their lives, shot Ford using a backup gun he had on his leg.
“The chief (Charlie Beck) declared that all aspects of the shooting were within policy. Plaintiffs were cleared by the department,” the suit declares.
Later on, the Police Commission reversed the chief’s decision and said that Wampler violated department policy on deadly shootings. Commissioners declared that Wampler did not have a good reason for shooting Ford.
The officers were put on administrative duties; both officers were told that they can’t be promoted to sergeant because of their current status.
The suit points to a recent case where a black police officer was found to violate department policy on deadly shootings. The black officer was put on administrative duties for a short period and now holds a top position with the Metropolitan division.
“Clearly, there is a different standard of discipline meted out to officers solely on account of their race and color of their skin,” the suit claims.
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