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Officer testifies racial slur probe was inadequate
By Bill Douthat, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Saturday, July 10, 2004
WEST PALM BEACH -- A city police sergeant testified Friday that he was not satisfied that his department adequately investigated his complaint last year that white officers were making racial slurs.
Sgt. Gregory Key said he went straight to then-Police Chief Ric Bradshaw after hearing about the alleged slurs from other officers. Bradshaw asked him to file a complaint with the Internal Affairs Division, and he did, Key said.
Key testified in the civil lawsuit brought by five other black officers who claim the department discriminates against bla
k officers in disciplinary proceedings, promotions and work assignments.
Key, who is not a plaintiff in the suit, was asked on the witness stand what happened in the investigation of his complaint.
"Basically nothing," Key said, turning to fac
e the jury. "I hate to say it that way, but nothing."
After interviewing 23 officers, including Key, internal affairs investigators concluded that the allegations were unsubstantiated. No disciplinary action was taken against the four accused officers.
Outside the court, Key said he thought Bradshaw tried to do the right thing with the complaint, but that some other top-ranking officers didn't take racial slurs seriously.
"Their hearts were not in it," Key said.
Bradshaw, who retired in January to run for Palm Beach County sheriff, testified Monday that his department did not discriminate against black officers.
A retired black officer claims Bradshaw uttered a racial slur 27 years ag
o while working as a detective. The officer, Horace Duncan, testified Friday but was barred from mentioning the claim.
Attorneys for the city argued that the allegation is unsupported, would be p
rejudicial and would have no bearing on the issues in the lawsuit. Circuit Judge Diana Lewis did allow an
attorney for the five officers to include Duncan's allegations in the court record.
Duncan said outside the courtroom that he heard Bradshaw use the racial slur in 1977, while questioning a white suspect about what he was doing in a black neighborhood. Duncan said he was upset at the comment but did not file a complaint because he just had been hired two weeks earlier.
The trial resumes Monday.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/con...4590d1003e.html
By Bill Douthat, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Saturday, July 10, 2004
WEST PALM BEACH -- A city police sergeant testified Friday that he was not satisfied that his department adequately investigated his complaint last year that white officers were making racial slurs.
Sgt. Gregory Key said he went straight to then-Police Chief Ric Bradshaw after hearing about the alleged slurs from other officers. Bradshaw asked him to file a complaint with the Internal Affairs Division, and he did, Key said.
Key testified in the civil lawsuit brought by five other black officers who claim the department discriminates against bla
k officers in disciplinary proceedings, promotions and work assignments.
Key, who is not a plaintiff in the suit, was asked on the witness stand what happened in the investigation of his complaint.
"Basically nothing," Key said, turning to fac
e the jury. "I hate to say it that way, but nothing."
After interviewing 23 officers, including Key, internal affairs investigators concluded that the allegations were unsubstantiated. No disciplinary action was taken against the four accused officers.
Outside the court, Key said he thought Bradshaw tried to do the right thing with the complaint, but that some other top-ranking officers didn't take racial slurs seriously.
"Their hearts were not in it," Key said.
Bradshaw, who retired in January to run for Palm Beach County sheriff, testified Monday that his department did not discriminate against black officers.
A retired black officer claims Bradshaw uttered a racial slur 27 years ag
o while working as a detective. The officer, Horace Duncan, testified Friday but was barred from mentioning the claim.
Attorneys for the city argued that the allegation is unsupported, would be p
rejudicial and would have no bearing on the issues in the lawsuit. Circuit Judge Diana Lewis did allow an
attorney for the five officers to include Duncan's allegations in the court record.
Duncan said outside the courtroom that he heard Bradshaw use the racial slur in 1977, while questioning a white suspect about what he was doing in a black neighborhood. Duncan said he was upset at the comment but did not file a complaint because he just had been hired two weeks earlier.
The trial resumes Monday.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/con...4590d1003e.html