The city of Clovis and its police department are in hot water. A police sergeant and former officer have filed separate lawsuits. Both touch on discrimination.
Former Clovis Police Officer Audra Carter, who is white, claims she fought off her supervisor's constant sexual advances. During that time, she started dating her fellow Clovis Police officer, who is black. Carter claims her supervisor told her to end her relationship with him. She says she refused to, and was fired shortly afterward.
Sergeant Javier Campos has also filed a lawsuit. His attorney says he was treated differently than the department's white officers.
Campos’ attorney, Poncho Baker explained, “He had an isolated incident with a coworker and the next thing he know, he was being set for a fitness for duty exam because he allegedly snapped and they thought he had some type of mental disability.”
Baker says Campos got into a confrontation with a white Clovis Police officer resulting in Campos' suspension. He said before the confrontation, that same white officer kicked a black officer in the buttocks three times but was never disciplined.
“Our position is they just don't treat white police officers the same they do minority officers and I think if they look at their history, the blacks, Hispanics, women, they're treated completely different,” said Baker.
The Clovis Police Department's spokesperson said the chief and officers involved can't comment on the cases. She said Clovis City Attorney David Wolfe, will likely issue a statement regarding the lawsuits in the coming days.
Court documents show Carter and Campos are seeking damages for discrimination, harassment, creating a hostile work environment, and retaliation.
Carter's civil trial is scheduled for May. A jury could decide on Campos' lawsuit later this year.
Campos is currently on administrative leave. Carter now works as a Fresno County probation officer.
TXT 24
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